A few facts on Israel
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Re: "A few facts on the Middle East", Letters, Apirl 18
Ian Martin claims that the United Nations did not “grant” Israel the status of an independent nation, but that “the state of Israel was declared”. While it is true Israel officially declared itself an independent state in 1948, the UN General Assembly voted on and passed the “Partition Plan for Palestine” (Resolution 181) on November 29, 1947, which granted the Jewish people an independent state of Israel on roughly half the land of Palestine. So, in fact, the UN did “grant Israel” an independent state. Martin is, therefore, incorrect.
Arab nations, none of which – with the possible exception of Lebanon – have ever shown any respect for democracy, subsequently rejected the resolution, war broke out in 1948, and Israel ended up with more than half the land. After declaring itself an independent state, once again the UN General Assembly voted to recognise it.
Mr Martin also creates the impression that Israel did not “turn the desert green”, as has often been claimed. While the extent to which Israel transformed desert land into arable cropland might have been exaggerated by some, it is indisputable that Israel is the only nation in the world that ended the 20th century with a net gain in forest land. Despite its many detractors, Israel must be doing something right.
James Madison
