Declaration of the Independent State of Israel.
"the Land of Israel, was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books": Rare First Printing of the Declaration of the State of Israel; Signed by the Secretary in the office of the Provisional Government
Declaration of the Independent State of Israel.
Item Number: 117248
Tel Aviv: Iton Rishmi, May 14, 1948.
Rare first printing of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. This was the first publication rescinding the British White Paper (see lot xxx). With the names of all of the signatories, headed by David Ben-Gurion, printed on p.2, this document heralded the end of British involvement in Palestine, and the start of unrestricted immigration into the new Jewish state. It publishes for the very first time the full declaration as read out by Ben-Gurion at 4pm on Friday 14 May 1948 in the Tel-Aviv Museum (known today as Independence Hall). It announced that the National Council was to become the Provisional Government of Israel until a Constituent Assembly was formed on 1 October 1948. Iton Rishmi records all the decrees, ordinances and notices of the Israeli government, as well as the appointments of all government officials. Very rare first edition, first issue, printed on the first day of the birth of Israel. Inscribed in Hebrew, “With blessings on my first day of work in the office of the Provisional Government”, signed “Secretary in the office of the Provisional Government.” Double matted and framed with a photograph of David Ben-Gurion signing the declaration held by Moshe Sharettand and Avraham Rivkind, the arranger of the ceremony, standing behind. Iton Rishmi, Official Gazette of Israel published Tel Aviv: 14 May 1948. Rare and desirable with such noted provenance.
Spearheaded by David Ben-Gurion, leaders "established a 13-member National Administration and a National Council of 37 members, which would, upon the departure of the British Mandatory forces, become the provisional government and legislature of the Jewish State A committee of five David Remez, [Felix] Rosenblueth, Moshe Shapira, [Moshe] Shertok, and Aharon Zisling was appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence. The draft submitted by the committee on May 13 consisted of 22 articles It was criticized as too long and flowery, and the final wording was entrusted to Ben-Gurion, Rabbi Y. L. Fishman (Maimon), A. Zisling, and M. Shertok. During the same evening Ben-Gurion prepared a final draft, which was approved by his colleagues on the committee." Debate on the final wording the next day, May 14, was fierce, with concerns about whether or not a state language should be named, the extent to which religion should enter into the document, and whether the borders of the nation should be delineated. Ultimately, it was decided that the document contain a brief history of the historical precedents for the foundation of the new nation, a description of the various authorities supporting the land's establishment, the reasons for its establishment, and a clear explanation of the temporary government that would lead it until a permanent structure was formed. The majority approved the document, and Ben-Gurion then "requested that the Declaration be adopted unanimously in a second vote, whatever objections members might have to a particular item or aspect, and this was done" (Encyclopedia Judaica). That same day, at 4:30 pm on Friday, May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel's independence, saying: "I shall read you the Foundation Scroll of the State of Israel, which has been approved in first reading by the National Council." His recitation of Israel's Declaration of Independence was broadcast throughout the entirety of the new state of Israel, and the nation, now a fait accompli, was quickly recognized by the United States and the USSR, assuring its acceptance. The National Council then immediately became the Provisional Council of State, with Ben-Gurion at its head, and it published the Declaration as its first official bulletin. That day has been celebrated every year since as Yom ha Azma'ut, Israeli Independence Day.
We're sorry, this item has sold.
