Israeli soldiers train in a 1958 newsreel marking the first 10 years of Israel's statehood (Screenshot of newsreel footage from YouTube)
This newsreel from 1958 captures many historic moments in Israel’s first 10 years — including the last British troops leaving Haifa, tanks rolling through the desert during the Suez Crisis, and a pipeline being laid from Eilat to the Mediterranean. In its short history, the brand-new state of Israel had faced — and accomplished — much.
“The way ahead imposes vital but heavy tasks,” the narrator announces. On screen, Israelis busily build airfields, cultivate fields, and manufacture steel.
“Yet always, Israel fears attack,” he continues, as female soldiers dash across the screen. “Even her womenfolk are enrolled.”
“As the desert blooms, Israel celebrates the first ten years of her life as a modern state,” the announcer concludes. “Israel looks to the future, to reap the harvest and to defend it.”
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(The Associated Press and Movietone News recently released their vast video archives on YouTube, allowing the public to freely access a million minutes worth of historical news clips dating back to 1895 — including many iconic scenes from Israel’s history featured in this Times of Israel series.)
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