June 18, 2011 (Page 13-14)

For this post I think I am just going to try and write as I read. I am hoping this will make it a little more fluid and conversational. Here goes…

I want to try and remember that Israel was formed in 1948. I think that’s a good fact to know. I also want to try and look up information on David Ben-Gurion so we can know more information about him. As a matter of fact I think I am going to do it now.

David Ben-Gurion (help•info) (Hebrew: דָּוִד בֶּן-גּוּרִיּוֹן‎, born David Grüen on 16 October 1886, died 1 December 1973) was the first Prime Minister of Israel. Ben-Gurion's passion for Zionism, which began early in life, led him to become a major Zionist leader, and as head of the Jewish Agency, he became the de facto leader of the Jewish community in Palestine, and largely led the struggle for an independent Jewish state in Palestine. In 1948, he formally proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel, and was the first to sign the Israeli Declaration of Independence. Ben-Gurion led the provisional government of Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and united the various Jewish militias into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Following the war, Ben-Gurion served as Israel's first Prime Minister. As Prime Minister, he helped build the state institutions, presiding over various national projects aimed at the development of the country. He also oversaw the absorption of vast numbers of Jews from all over the world. In 1953, he resigned and served as Defense Minister, before returning to office in 1955. Under his leadership, Israel responded aggressively to Arab guerilla attacks, and in 1956, invaded Egypt along with British and French forces after Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal. He stepped down from office in 1963, and retired from political life in 1970. He then moved to Sde Boker, a kibbutz in the Negev desert, where he lived until his death. Posthumously, Ben-Gurion was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century

I am sure you knew some if not all of this stuff. I didn’t. I want to learn. Here is the link to the rest of the Wiki stuff. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ben-Gurion

I think its interesting there were many different milita groups that formed the IDF. I knew the Jewish people were considered “nomadic” but thought they were still together. This makes it sound like they were not only nomadic but separate. They had to be put together. Maybe it could be considered like colonies or states. I would like to learn more about that.

As I read the rest of the Wiki stuff it struck me how patient he was with the Arabs. It seams like his vision included letting them stay and become citizens if they wanted. He knew it would not go over well, but that was his goal. He thought it could happen in time.

Back to the book…

Hebron is where Abraham walked… I would like to try and remember that fact. Still there today. Same name.

Ok, this David Wilder guy is saying the Jews are leaving because they are scared… I don’t think I buy that. I think they just want to go home. Lets be honest, with as much as Israel is under attack does anyone believe they are safer there? I think they just want to go home. I think is also more likely the fulfilment of profecy.

Have to go for now. Did not get much of the book read today, but learned a lot.