Proclamation 5566 --
Centennial of the Birth of David Ben-Gurion
November 7, 1986
By
the President of the United States of
America
A
Proclamation
David
Ben-Gurion, first Prime Minister of Israel, was born one hundred years ago, on October
16, 1886.
From his boyhood, an independent Israel was his dream. He never
wavered in pursuit of that dream; he worked all his life long to establish the
State of Israel and to build and strengthen it. He succeeded.
Every
quality we associate with statesmanship was David Ben-Gurion's -- wisdom,
tremendous ability, great resourcefulness -- but none more so than the vision
and the determination that propelled him decade after decade. Israel's existence is a true
testament to the spirit and the deeds of David Ben-Gurion. He would have wanted
no other legacy.
Among
the many links between the United States and Israel are principles that
were dear to David Ben-Gurion. The Declaration of Independence of the State of
Israel, a milestone in the life of Ben-Gurion, echoes the American Declaration
of Independence in its recognition of the equality of every human being.
In
order to honor the celebration of the centennial of the birth of David
Ben-Gurion and the values of freedom and democracy we share with Israel, the Congress, by
Senate Joint Resolution 422, has authorized and requested the President to
issue a proclamation designating 1986 as the centennial of the birth of David
Ben-Gurion.
Now,
Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim 1986 as the centennial of
David Ben-Gurion's birth, and I urge all Americans to take note of this
commemoration and join in the celebration of the birth of this great statesman.
I also applaud the David Ben-Gurion Centennial Committee of the United States of
America in its work promoting the year-long celebration
of David Ben-Gurion and his achievements.
In
Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of November, in
the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of
America the two hundred and
eleventh.
Ronald
Reagan
[Filed
with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:00 a.m., November
10, 1986]