FROM OUR ARCHIVES
65 YEARS AGO
On May 14, 1952, The Jerusalem Post reported that according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization a giant locust plague was threatening the entire Middle East. It would move from Africa to the Middle East and would be the worst scourge in a century. Some locusts had already entered Israel from Jordan, but the invasion was not yet “full scale.”
The first, large swarm of yellow locusts was discovered that morning by members of Kibbutz Ha’on, on their eastern field adjoining the Syrian border. However, the situation did not constitute a full-sale locust invasion, an authoritative source in the Agriculture Ministry told the Post. The greatest danger was in well-irrigated areas, where locust eggs, if any, were being laid.
The final session of the conference convened in Karachi by the newly formed Muslim People’s Organization passed a resolution condemning the creation of the State of Israel which, it said, “had thrust a nail into the heart of the Muslim world.”
The Commerce Ministry announced that both clothing and shoe coupons would be “released and honored as promised.”
Agriculture minister Levi Eshkol told the Knesset that more than 60% of farm produce was already grown locally. The recent orders for the import of the irrigation pumps and pipes would certainly increase this percentage.
The Daniel Frisch Zionist Organization of America House in Tel Aviv, named after the president of the Zionist Organization of America, was officially declared open after a small ceremony.
50 YEARS AGO
On May 14, 1967, The Jerusalem Post reported that on Israel’s 19th birthday prime minister Levi Eshkol declared that the answer to Syrian sabotage activities within Israel would come when and in a manner that Israel would decide.
Foreign minister Abba Eban declared in Jerusalem that the UN secretary-general’s statement in which he deplored “terrorist activities” had to be viewed as natural and a move in conformity with the letter and spirit of the UN Charter. But it was difficult to know to what extent the Syrians took heed of such expressions of international community, and the lack of such expression could foster Syria’s illusion that international opinion did not condemn terrorism and sabotage.
The great powers announced that they would boycott the following morning’s military parade in Jerusalem, marking Israel’s 19th Independence Day.
25 YEARS AGO
On May 14, 1992, The Jerusalem Post reported that prime minister Yitzhak Shamir had declared that “the term ‘right of return’ is an empty phrase that is utterly meaningless. It will never happen, in any shape or form.”
A Palestinian shouting “Allahu akbar” and wielding a large kitchen knife attacked schoolchildren in Jerusalem’s Mahaneh Yehuda market, injuring two youths slightly and inciting an angry backlash from the crowd.
The third day of searches for escaped terrorist Jamil Ismail Baz ended without results.
Israelis David Ovitz, Fares Musarati and his adult children Faika and Majid were returned from Egyptian captivity in exchange for twelve Egyptians held in Israel.
In Ottawa, the head of the Palestinian delegation to the working group on refugees, Elias Sanbar, declared that the inclusion of Palestinians outside the territories meant that the co-sponsors and participants in the peace process “have realized that our march towards the establishment of our independent state is on course.”