The Labor party under my leadership is working to bring the

“The Labor Party under my leadership is working to bring the Israeli people together from all nationalities in the spirit of the Scroll of Independence.” Thus spoke Ehud Barak, soldier and statesman, a man forged in the fires of conflict yet yearning for unity. His words, rich with purpose, are a call not merely to politics but to the soul of a nation — a plea to remember the sacred covenant written at the birth of Israel, when, amid the ashes of exile and the dust of ancient prophecy, the people declared their right to exist in freedom, equality, and peace. The Scroll of Independence, that hallowed document read on the 14th of May, 1948, was not just a proclamation of statehood; it was a promise — a vision that the children of many tongues and histories would stand as one under the same sky.

In invoking the Scroll of Independence, Barak draws upon the founding spirit of a nation built from the fragments of the diaspora — Jews from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond; men and women who came bearing both scars and songs. They were bound not by sameness, but by shared destiny. The Scroll itself speaks of equality, of justice, of the freedom to live and worship without fear. It dreams of peace with neighbors, and of harmony within. Yet, like all sacred promises, it is easier to write than to fulfill. Barak’s words recognize this eternal struggle: that even after independence, the work of unity is never complete.

For in Israel, the divisions of nationality, language, and faith run deep — Jews and Arabs, secular and religious, immigrants and natives, left and right. The Labor Party, once the architect of the nation’s early years, sought to rebuild the bridge between these groups, to remind all who dwell in the land that their differences need not divide them. Barak’s mission was to rekindle the founding flame — to remind the people that the spirit of the Scroll of Independence belongs to all, not to one tribe or ideology. It is the moral compass of the nation, pointing always toward inclusion, compassion, and shared destiny.

The ancients would have understood this struggle well. In the days of the Hebrew prophets, the people of Israel were often torn between factions, between kings and priests, between the call of power and the voice of conscience. Yet the prophets cried out that the true strength of a nation lies not in its armies or its wealth, but in its unity and righteousness. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” asked Amos. Barak’s invocation of unity in diversity echoes this same wisdom — that peace within is the first condition of peace without, and that a nation divided in spirit cannot stand strong against the winds of history.

Consider the story of David Ben-Gurion, the founding Prime Minister of Israel, who stood before his people in 1948 and proclaimed independence even as war gathered on every border. In that moment, surrounded by doubt and danger, he did not speak only of survival. He spoke of moral purpose — of building a state that would uphold the dignity of every citizen, Jew and Arab alike. The Scroll of Independence he read was both sword and prayer: a declaration of sovereignty and a vision of harmony. Barak’s words reach back to that moment, urging his generation to remember that independence is not only political freedom but moral responsibility — the courage to live up to one’s highest ideals.

And yet, as with all noble visions, the path is fraught. For every nation, there comes the temptation to forget the principles of its birth when faced with fear, conflict, or division. Barak warns against this. To bring people together from all nationalities is not an act of weakness, but of immense strength. It requires humility, patience, and the wisdom to see that diversity is not a burden but a blessing — that the tapestry of a nation is richest when every thread, however different, is woven with care.

The lesson, then, is clear and eternal: independence must always be guided by unity, and unity must always be rooted in justice. To live in the spirit of the Scroll of Independence is to walk the path of compassion, to see one’s neighbor as kin, and to hold one’s nation to the same high standard that gave it birth. It is to remember that a free people must constantly renew their promise — to protect the weak, to honor the diverse, to seek peace where others sow division.

So let these words echo through the generations: build nations not only with stone and law, but with understanding and purpose. Guard your independence not only with arms, but with conscience. And when divisions arise, look again to your founding scroll — whatever name it bears — for it holds not only your history, but your destiny. For only in unity, upheld by justice and compassion, can a nation truly live in the spirit of its independence and fulfill the promise written by the hands of its founders and sealed by the hopes of its people.