This is not a typical Israel Independence Day essay. This isn't about celebration. It's not about joy. it's about war against Israel. Here's the story:
The Gregorian date (that is, the 'English' date), May 2, 2017, corresponds to the Hebrew date, Iyyar 6, 5777. It is Israel's Independence Day--its birthday celebration.
More precisely, Iyyar 6th is the Hebrew day 69 years ago Israel created "a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel [land of Israel], to be known as the State of Israel" ("Proclamation of Independence", knesset.gov.il, no date, retrieved May 2, 2017). The 6th of Iyyar, 1948 corresponds to May 15, 1948; because of differences between the Hebrew and Gregorian calendars, the 6th of Iyyar in 2017 corresponds to the 2nd of May.
The creation of the State of Israel actually began at the UN on November 29, 1947. That was the moment the UN voted to create a state for the Jewish people.
Both May 15, 1948 and November 29, 1947 are important to Jew and Arab. You see, if November 29th is important to Jews in Israel because that's the date the UN, essentially, gave Israel its 'birth certificate', November 29th is important to Arabs because that's the date in 2012 Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas went to the UN General Assembly to demand that the UN issue a "birth certificate" for the "State of Palestine" ("Full text of Mahmoud Abbas's speech to the UN General Assembly, November 29, 2012, haaretz, November 29, 2012).
Then again, if, on the Gregorian calendar, May 15,1948 is important to Jews in Israel because that's the date the State of Israel came into being, it is also the date 'Palestinians' call, Nakba day. That's the day when 'Palestinians' remember how they lost their 1948 war to destroy Israel.
Put another way, Jews celebrate the Hebrew equivalent of May 15 as their independence day. Arabs, however, put May 15th each year to a different use--to smear Israel by blaming Israel for defeating the Arab for a war they--the Arab--started.
This year, Mahmoud Abbas and his Palestinian Authority have introduced a new, more vicious element to Israel's Independence Day celebrations. This year, Abbas won't wait for May 15th to smear Israel. This year, he's going to do it on Israel's Independence Day (Tovan Lazaroff, "Israel, Palestinians battle for votes over Jerusalem resolution at UNESCO," jerusalempost, May 1, 2017).
On Israel's Independence Day, Arab friends of Abbas will present a motion to a meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This Organization "is responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication. It strengthens the ties between nations and societies" ( "Introducing UNESCO", unesco, homepage, about us, no date, retrieved May 3, 2017).
It is important for you to understand what is UNESCO's Mission Statement (above), to understand what Arab members of UNESCO will attempt to do on May 2, 2017: they will ask for a vote calling to deny Israeli sovereignty over all of Jerusalem.
Seeking to deny Jewish sovereignty over all Jerusalem less than six months after successfully denying all Jewish connection to Jerusalem's Temple Mount, UNESCO strays far from its Mission Statement to promote Education, Science, Culture and Communication. UNESCO actions against Israel do not strengthen ties between Jewish and Muslim societies. They do not foster coordination or cooperation. Instead, they attempt to erase all Jewish connection to Judaism's holiest city--and holiest site--in order to empower Islam to conquer and erase the Jewish state.
For Abbas, a vote to deny all Jewish sovereignty over Jerusalem would be a major victory. It would also be an important victory. He comes to Washington, DC tomorrow (May 3, 2017). He is scheduled to meet with new US president Donald Trump for the first time. Trump has promised to move the US Embassy from its current location in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Israel's capital. Abbas objects. He doesn't want a US Embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. Now, if the UNESCO vote succeeds, he can--innocently, of course--ask Trump, why do you wish to move your Embassy to a place where Israel has no sovereignty?
How do you think that's going to work out for Abbas? Stay tuned. We could find out tomorrow.
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