Washington, D.C. - To mark Israel’s Independence Day, today U.S. Rep. Gary Peters issued the following statement:

“Israel’s Independence Day is immediately preceded by Memorial Day because, as Israelis know far too well, the two are inseparable.  The jubilation of Yom Ha’Atzmaut would not be possible without the brave sacrifices remembered just the day before on Yom HaZikaron.  While Israel declared its independence 64 years ago today, the freedom of the Jewish State has been won and safeguarded by each generation, from the founding generation who fought in Israel’s War of Independence, to those young men and women who stand guard today, defending Israel as a lonely democracy in a sea of terror."

"On Yom Ha’Atzmaut we rejoice in the miracle that is the modern State of Israel and today I join the Detroit Jewish community in celebrating Israel at 64.”

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