Today, according to the Jewish calendar, is the 66th anniversary of the old/new State of Israel in its modern form.

As the opening paragraphs of its Declaration of Independence state - "the Land of Israel, Palestine was the birthplace of the Jewish people."

Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance, and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.

After being forcibly exiled from their land, the people kept faith with it throughout their Dispersion and never ceased to pray and hope for their return to it and for the restoration in it of their political freedom.

Impelled by this historic and traditional attachment, Jews strove in every successive generation to re-establish themselves in their ancient homeland. In recent decades they returned in their masses.

(snip)

WE EXTEND our hand to all neighbouring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighbourliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land. The State of Israel is prepared to do its share in a common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East.

Alas, the surrounding Arab countries harshly rejected this hand of friendship; tragically they are all now engaged in brutal civil wars, none of which are the fault of the International Zionist Conspiracy (as they tend to call Israel, or, alternatively the Little Satan).

Meanwhile, surrounded by enemies, nevertheless, Israel, smaller in size and population than say, New Jersey, carries on and thrives with 34 political parties competing in the last election in 2013.  Some other interesting statistics from Yvette Miller at Aish. 

Times Jerusalem is mentioned in the Jewish Bible:  622

Times Jerusalem is mentioned in the Koran:  0

8000 rockets fired into Israel from its neighbors since 2005.

0 rockets fired into the United States since 2005.

170,000 rockets pointed at Israel.

90% of Israel homes use solar power to heat their water

12 Nobel Prizes: the highest per capita in the world

500 million birds migrate over Israel each year.

Forever and ever.