Washington -- President Clinton received an honorary doctor of philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem during an April 27 ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the nation of Israel.

"We confer this honorary doctorate as an expression of our deepest esteem not only for President Clinton, but for the American people," said Hebrew University President Menachem Magidor. "We, at the Hebrew University, like America, are strongly committed to a free exchange of ideas among people of different religious beliefs, ethnic background, and political viewpoints," he said.

Magidor unfurled a large scroll inscribed to the President, stating that he "has won worldwide admiration and respect for his devotion to the principles of freedom, equality for all people and unflagging devotion to the democratic process.

"In his aspirations and vision for a peaceful Middle East that will benefit the lives of all its peoples, President Clinton reiterates the hopes of the founders of the Hebrew University who envisioned the institution as a source of knowledge and advancement for all," Magidor read.

The President said he was "very honored to receive this degree" from one of the world's leading centers of learning and research. He noted that its founders include Chaim Weizmann, Martin Buber, Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein.

Clinton said he was accepting the honor on behalf of nine US presidents before him, beginning with Harry Truman -- all of whom were "devoted to Israel's security and freedom, all committed to peace in the Middle East." He also said he accepted it "on behalf of the American people who have formed not just an alliance, but a profound friendship with the people of Israel over these last 50 years."

He paid tribute to President Truman's role in establishing US policy toward Israel. Just 11 minutes after Israel declared its independence, said Clinton, Truman recognized the fledgling nation, the first chief of state to do so. Clinton called that act one of the United States of America's "proudest moments."

While praising Israel's many accomplishments, Clinton also used the 50th anniversary ceremony to urge movement towards "a just, secure and lasting peace" in the Middle East.

"The real divisions today are not between Jews and Arabs," he said, "but between those stuck in the past and those who long for a better future; between those paralyzed by hatred and those energized by hope; those who stand with clenched fists and those who reach out with open hands.

"We cannot let the extremists prevail," said Clinton. "Israel can fulfill its full promise by drawing on the courage and vision of its founders to achieve peace with security. Never has the opportunity been more real and it must not be lost."

The ceremony, in a large tent set up especially for the occasion, was attended by members of the President's cabinet, his top national security advisors, members of Congress, and diplomatic officials, including Israeli Ambassador Eliahu Ben Elissar, Abba Eban, one of the last surviving original founders of Israel, and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel.

Actor Richard Dreyfuss read an excerpt about Israel from Merle Miller's book "Plain Speaking, an Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman," while actress Linda Lavin read from "My Life" by former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir.

Vice President Al Gore, who will travel with his wife, Tipper, to Israel April 29 to represent the United States at Israeli ceremonies commemorating the nation's 50th anniversary, introduced Clinton. "I know we will carry with us the yearnings of millions of Americans for peace, for a new season of joy and a new jubilee of hope," Gore said.

Six red white and blue American flags and six blue and white Israeli flags -- in an alternating pattern -- stood behind the podium where the dignitaries spoke.

The Israeli band ESTA performed at the ceremony, which opened with the playing of the US and Israeli national anthems. Three religious scholars -- Sulayman Nyang, President of the Interfaith Conference of Washington, Ismar Schorsch, Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Society of America and Reverend James Dunn, Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Public Affairs -- also spoke at the event.