Israel celebrates its 75th year of independence, a joyous two-day holiday (April 25 and 26) marking its rebirth as a nation by a United Nations plebiscite in 1947. The Philippines is credited to be the only Asian country that voted “Yes” to UN Resolution 181, recreating the Biblical Promised Land of Israel after almost 2,000 years.
The name of Israel disappeared from world maps and daily use after the nation fell under Roman occupation. In 135 A.D., Roman Emperor Vespasian changed the name of Israel to Palestina, or Palestine.
Israel became a nation again 2000 years later, after World War II and the Nazi Holocaust.
In an attempt to eradicate the Jewish race, German dictator Adolf Hitler slaughtered 6 million Jews. But two million Jews survived his death camps, most under the age of 16.
They had no more homes or properties to return to.
As an act of mercy and rescue, the United Nations held a special assembly on Nov. 29, 1947, proposing that the nation of Palestine be divided into 2 countries. One-third of the land (an area the size of Palawan) would be renamed Israel and given to the Jews, including the Holocaust refugees. Two-thirds would be given to the Arabs and would eventually be renamed the Jordan.
Jews worldwide waited in suspense as 56 nations joined the tight and suspenseful votation.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos Romulo, contrary to popular belief, was vehemently against the partition of Palestine, stating that he stood against the “territorial mutilation of the Holy Land” and the restoration of Israel which would destabilize the Middle East. (from: “Romulo: A Third World Soldier at the U.N.”published June 1, 1986)
But President Manuel Roxas reversed Romulo’s decision after communicating with US President Harry Truman, a Bible-believing Christian who was firmly convinced that the resurrection of Israel was the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. The Philippines’ “Yes” vote became the “swing” vote, tilting the scales in favor of Israel by a final count of 33 for, and 13 against.
To this day, Filipinos are not required to present visas in order to visit Israel, as a gesture of thanks by the Israeli government.
An “Open Doors” Monument in the city of Rishon leTziyon also stands as a tribute to the Philippines, the only nation to open its doors to Jewish Holocaust refugees from 1938 to 1942. And the only Asian country that supported Israel’s restoration, giving Jewish exiles and refugees a permanent home.
“I feel very much at home here,” shares Lydia Aclo, 15 years cook for a Jewish widow in Tel Aviv. She is one of over 20,000 Filipinos employed as hotel workers, and caregivers and nannies in Jewish households. “I’ve been generously paid, well-treated and I’ve never felt any racial discrimination from my employers. Maybe because the Jews have also been exiles, escaping persecution and abuse in foreign countries.”
Christian groups with a love for Israel are also celebrating its 75th Independence Day, including Grain, New Wine and Oil church where there will be singing, dancing and readings of Bible verses predicting the miracle rebirth of the Promised Land. They are specially blest that the Philippines was given a special role in making God’s will come to pass. One prophecy dates back 2,700 years and comes from the Book of Amos: “I (the Lord) will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God”. (Amos 9:15-16)
Major Christian groups are specially eager to affirm Filipinos love and support for Israel to negate the bitter aftertaste of a shocking, totally contrary anti-Israel vote cast by the Philippines at a United Nations Assembly last November 30, 2022
The Philippine U.N. representative affirmed a Resolution branding the revival of the state of Israel in 1947 as a “Nakba,” the Arab-Palestinian word for “Catastrophe” or “disaster.”
“Nakba Day” will be commemorated with anti-Israel presentations at the U.N. and rallies in several nations on May 15.
To be continued…
