Toasts of President Johnson and Prime Minister Eshkol
(June 1, 1964)
Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Eshkol, Excellencies, ladies
and gentlemen:
Tonight we are honoring the Prime Minister of a country
and a people whose record of industry and dedication and single-minded
devotion to progress is very inspiring. The people of Israel have labored
long and hard to make of their ancient land a highly developed and most
modern nation.
Their achievements are remarkable. Toil and sweat alone
are not responsible for such success. The spirit and the dedication
of your people, Mr. Prime Minister, have been the inspiration for their
labors. Yet you face, more than most countries, continuing challenges
to the resourcefulness of your people. In meeting these challenges,
you shall have, as you have had in the past, such support as we can
give you.
Mr. Prime Minister, you told me only this morning that
water was blood for Israel. So we shall make a joint attack on Israel's
water shortage through the highly promising technique of desalting.
Indeed, let us hope that this technique will bring benefit to all of
the peoples of the parched Middle East. We shall also hope and work
for the solution of the problems that divide Israel and its neighbors.
With patience, with good will, with courage and determination, we can
and we must resolve these issues.
We welcome you here tonight, Mr. Prime Minister, as
representative of a country for which we have great admiration and affection.
So I ask those, my guests, my beloved friends, who have come here tonight,
to join me in a toast to the Prime Minister of Israel, to his charming
and gracious wife, to continued close friendship between our two countries.
NOTE: The President proposed the toast at a dinner
in the State Dining Room at the White House. Prime Minister Eshkol responded
as follows:
Mr. President, Mrs. Johnson, distinguished guests:
Mrs. Eshkol and I will long remember the kind and
gracious hospitality of Mrs. Johnson and yourself, Mr. President.
Over the years, my vocations in farming, Mr. President,
as you know, in water projects, in land settlement, in economics, has
kept me close to ordinary people, to their hopes, and problems, and
to their understanding of relationships between peoples.
Long before I became active in the political life of
my country, I knew of the waves of friendship coming from this great
country to our people struggling to renew its independence in the land
of its fathers. For the common man in Israel, no less than for its leaders,
the very word "America" carried with it hope and encouragement.
As I become more and more acquainted with our international
relationships, I have learned how lasting, indeed, is the debt of gratitude
we owe to the American people for its unbroken friendship over the years.
It is a friendship which is engraved for all time on the tablets of
our renewed nationhood. Moreover, as I have met more and more people
from other new countries, I can say that American leadership of the
free world and its partnership with the developing countries are acknowledged.
Criticism finds its way to the headlines far more easily
than appreciation. But as the Psalmists said, "Truth springs from
the earth." American aid and sympathy will not be forgotten. Despite
the points of international tension, I think it is true to say that
in strengthening freedom throughout the world, since World War II, the
patient effort of your great country has borne fruit.
Today it is widely recognized that the balance of hope
is with the forces of freedom. Mr. President, I would like, especially,
to thank you for your friendly, nice words you said tonight, in addition
to what we discussed this morning in your office. May I say that this
great hope of freedom and peace is greatly strengthened by the knowledge
that leading the forces of freedom there is a man with a deep faith,
an understanding of ordinary people, outstanding public experience,
and the pragmatic touch.
My country is small in area. I said today to the President,
I think that Israel is maybe smaller than the smallest county in Texas.
When, Mr. President, as we hope, you and Lady Johnson visit us, you
may express surprise that our country, which as I said this morning
is not too big, is burdened with such great problems. However, as history
will show, our land has never been judged by its geography or by its
physical capacity only.
Through its spiritual contribution, it has found its
place in human thought. It is this faith which encourages us in the
belief that the problems we face will ultimately be settled and the
help that you, Mr. President, promised tonight is very much appreciated
and we will cherish it for a long time. Reunited as we are once again
with our land, after close to 2,000 years of separation, we feel that
faith has its reward.
It is faith which has brought us thus far and, if I
may say so, it is this faith, rooted in the biblical heritage, which
is at the basis of the United States-Israel friendship. We hope, Mr.
President, that under your leadership this friendship will deepen in
the years ahead.
I am limited in my use of the English language, otherwise
I would speak to you--not read from the paper. I still hope that my
meaning is clear, for as the ancient Hebrew saying goes, "Words
that come from the heart, go to the heart."
In proposing a toast to you, Mr. President, may I cite
the traditional toast of my people, "Le chayim tovim uleshalom."
It means, "To a good life and peace." To you, who are dedicated
to bringing the good life and peace to your own people and to the world,
ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States of America.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |