An unusually large collection of documents from the People's Council - the Declaration of Independence - the ...

An unusually large collection of documents from the People's Council - the Declaration of Independence - the Provisional State Council and the Provisional Government

The People's Council and the Declaration of Independence

A collection of exceptionally rare items, from the People's Council [-Moetzet Ha'am] and the People's Administration [-Minhelet Ha'am], the historical event of the Declaration of Independence, the Provisional State Council [-Moetzet Ha'Medina Ha'Zmanit], and the Provisional Government [-Ha'Memshela Ha'Zmanit]. Rich and fascinating historical material.

A large and impressive collection, unusual in its scope, here is a partial breakdown, we recommend to come by and examine this outstanding collection in person.

Among the items: a rare invitation (to the members of the People's Council) to the session of the declaration of independence * an additional invitation to the declaration of independence (given to the public figures who were invited to the event) * an invitation to the first meeting of the People's Council * a proposal for the agenda of the first session of the People's Council * proclamation of the People's Council (No. 1) * proclamation of the Provisional State Council (No. 1), which also contains the cancellation of the White Paper of 1939 * Long regulations document of the meetings of the Provisional State Council (with proofreading) * The Government and Judicial Procedures Ordinance, 1948 * Invitations to the meetings of the State Council, 1948 * protocols of the State Council Conferences, 1948 * Map of Jerusalem, with military rule markings - David Ben-Gurion's (printed) signature * Rare stencil booklets from the People's Council * the People's Administration Sheet * The People's Council meeting booklet (the fourth meeting - declaration of the state) * Dozens of protocol booklets of the Provisional State Council * Documents on the state flag and emblem * The activities of the State Council vis-a-vis the UN * Documents and letters on security, the military and terrorism * Letters from the commanders of the Irgun following the mass imprisonment of members of the underground and their designation as a terrorist organization * and more

Partial breakdown of the material:

1. Letter of invitation from the People's Administration to the [first] meeting of the People's Council, on the 25th of Nisan 5708, May 4th 1948, at the KKL offices in Tel Aviv. 19th of Nisan 5708, April 28th 1948. This is the earliest item in the collection, and from it the establishment of the state practically began. The council operated for only ten days, and convened for a total of four meetings that took place between the 4th and 14th of May. At its last meeting, on May 14 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed. Here is an invitation to the first meeting that The People's Council held, which one of the council members received.

2-3. "Proposal for the agenda - the first session of the People's Council". 25th Nisan 5708, May 4 1948, the document contains six sections. The last section: "Determining foundations for the work of the People's Council and the People's Administration and publishing a proclamation regarding the enactment of laws".

"Proposal for the decision of the People's Council regarding establishing foundations for the work of the People's Council and the People's Administration". We have two versions in front of us, on one of them a note is attached: "corrected version", in it one of the original sections has been deleted, as described below. The document opens: "Whereas the plenary session of the National Committee of the Knesset of Israel in its session held on the 20th of Adar II 5708 (3.1.48) decided that the elected delegation of the Zionist movement... shall constitute the Provisional Government Council of the Jewish State... and whereas the Zionist General Council in its meeting... decided... in accordance with the decisions of the management of the Jewish Agency and the plenum of the National Committee, to establish a temporary government council... Therefore, the People's Council decides as follows: The People's Council has full authority in all matters that come as a result of the dissolution of the mandatory government in Israel.. With the cancellation of the British mandate on Israel, the People's Council will act as a temporary governing council of the Jewish state". The capabilities of the new council are detailed subsequently.

This document contains 4 pages. On the last page is stated: "The People's Council proclamation No. 1". The entire document was written on a typewriter, and photocopied.

In the original document of the proposal, section 11 appears: "as a Temporary Provision, in the emergency status that exisut in the country, a member of the People's Council who could not participate in a meeting may give his vote to another member, and a member participating in the meeting may, by virtue of such permission, act as a proxy for more than one member".

This section was deleted in the "corrected version", and the sentence that ends the document was also omitted: "In the People's Administration there were different opinions regarding section 11 and no decision was made whether to propose it to the council or not". The fourth page [the proclamation], which is present in the revised document, is also not present in the first version.

4. Letter of invitation on behalf of the People's Administration, to the members of the People's Council, for the Declaration of Independence session. This invitation was only given to council members. 4th of Iyar 5708 5.13.48. "Content of the meeting: Discussion on the Declaration of Independence". It also says: "Council members are requested to come to the meeting in holiday attire". They were asked to arrive at 1:15pm Such an invitation has never been seen in sales before.

5. Letter of invitation [general] on behalf of the People's Administration to the independence declaration session on the 5th of Iyar 5708. "We request to keep the content of the invitation and the date of the council's meeting a secret". "The invitation is personal. Outfit: dark holiday clothes." The invitation was printed on the 4th of Iyar 5708, 5.13.48, the eve of the Declaration of Independence.

Such invitations were given to a limited group of dozens of dignitaries who were invited to the event, and it is written that they are asked to arrive at 3:30 p.m. in preparation for the event that will begin at 4:00 p.m.

6. Entrance ticket to the Declaration of Independence session, the rarer form of the two prints, given only to members of the People's Council. Printed in blue ink on white Bristol paper (the second format, printed in black ink, is given to dignitaries who were invited to watch the second part of the aforementioned session). On the cover of the invitation is written: "The People's Council - Independence Declaration Session - Tel Aviv, 5th of Iyar 5708 (5.14.1948)". To this day we have not seen such an item in sales.

7-8. The map of the military rule over Jerusalem signed (in print) by Ben-Gurion. The map of Jerusalem, with the markings of the military rule in red borders. At the bottom of the map is the signature (in print) of David Ben-Gurion, 26th of Tammuz 5708, 2nd of August 1948. And a letter from the Provisional Government to the members of the State Council, regarding "the [above] map of the territory over which the rule of the Defense Forces was imposed, in accordance To proclamation No. 1 of the Minister of Defense.

Provisional State Council

With the proclamation of the state, the People's Council became the Provisional State Council, and it operated for several months until the establishment of the Knesset.

Before us are dozens of letters, original documents and historical certificates from the activities of the Provisional State Council. The establishment of the state is documented here from its first day (5th of Iyar 5708) to the establishment of the Knesset (Shevat 5709), through the great challenges that stood in its way in various fields.

Below are selected examples from the large collection:

* Proclamation [No. 1] on behalf of the Provisional State Council: "By virtue of the Declaration of Independence published today, 5th of Iyar 5708 The Provisional Council of State hereby enacts [the manuscript reads: declares] the following". There are three sections. We have a rare copy in front of us containing handwritten glosses.This is the first legal document of the State of Israel, read by Ben-Gurion at the Declaration of Independence.

The proclamation establishes the status of the Provisional State Council as the legislative body ("the legislative authority"), cancels the White Paper of 1939 ("the provisions of the law arising from the White Paper from 1939 are null and void thereby"), and in the process cancels the restrictions on immigrating to Israel. It also states that "As long as no laws have been issued by the Provisional State Council or based on it... the [mandatory] law that existed in the Land of Israel on the 5th day of Iyar 5708 shall be in force (!) in the State of Israel". At the end of the Proclamation the Provisional State Council is signed [in print]. The page was written on a typewriter and Pphotocopied.

We have before us an early version of the Proclamation, which contains several handwritten glosses, and it differs from the final version by several words:

The final version states: "The People's Council hereby declares" while in front of us it is printed: "The People's Council hereby legislates" (corrected in handwritting "declares").

In front of us: "can grant and thus grants" (the last three words have been crossed out in pencil), while the final version reads (according to David Ramez's suggestion): "entitled to grant".

The words that open section 3: "Except as stated in the previous section", do not exist in the final version from which Ben-Gurion read. The order of the sentences in this section has also been changed. Throughout the document there are some other minor changes.

* Long regulations document of the meetings of the Provisional State Council. Stencil printing. A number of copies.

* Pages and brochures of the 'agenda' of the first meetings of the Provisional State Council, Iyar-Tammuz 5708.

* Government and Judicial Procedures Ordinance, 1948. Emergency Regulations: "By virtue of my authority... I, David Ben Gurion, the Provisional Prime Minister, amend the following emergency regulations". This is the first piece of legislation enacted in the State of Israel. We have two Pages detailing the ways to defend and protect windshields against bombs. Any person who violates the instructions is liable to imprisonment or a financial fine.

* Invitations to important meetings of the Provisional State Council, Iyar-Sivan 5708 1948.

* Protocols of various conferences of the Provisional State Council, 1948.

* Excerpt [4 pages] from a report written by a mediator on behalf of the UN. September 1948. English. typewritten.

* Continuous correspondence regarding the 'bank notes', between the Minister of Finance and the directors of the Anglo-Palestine Bank. The letters are printed on a typewriter in duplicates [5708?].

* The proposal for the transition order to the Constituent Assembly (second proposal). Typewriter printing.

Terrorism and the Irgun and Lehi undergrounds:

Historical background:

Following the Altalena Affair (a ship purchased by the Irgun and bombed by the IDF in June 1948) about 200 Irgun personnel were arrested (including one of the three heads of the Lehi, Natan Yellin-Mor). Most of them were released after a few weeks. Some of the senior members of the organization: Moshe Hasson, Eliyahu Lenkin, Yaakov Meridor, Betzalel Amitsur and Hillel Kook were held in custody until August 27 and were only released following a hunger strike and public pressure. Most of the Irgun units were disbanded and dispersed in the IDF, with the exception of the "Jerusalem Battalion".

On September 17th 1948, Count Bernadotte, the mediator on behalf of the United Nations, was murdered in Jerusalem. His assassination was attributed to the Lehi organization. Three days after the murder, the "Emergency Regulations for the Prevention of Terrorism, 5708-1948" were enacted. Three days later they were replaced by the "Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance". Following the enactment of the Ordinance, Lehi and the Homeland Front were declared terrorist organizations. The Lehi was disbanded. The government has also issued an ultimatum to the Irgun's battalion in Jerusalem to disband. The battalion was disbanded on September 21.

Before us are a number of rare items from that affair, which is considered an important and controversial landmark in the history of the State of Israel:

* Notes to the emergency time regulations for the prevention of terrorism. Three sections [September 1948]. Another copy with handwritten corrections and additions.

* Pamphlet in French on behalf of the UN Security Council, September 28th 1948, strongly condemning the murder of Count Bernadotte and Colonel Serot of the French Air Force, carried out on November 17th 1948, by the 'Stern Group' (Lehi). [4] Pages printed on one side.

* A long letter from the founding members of the Irgun, detained in the "concentration camp", demanding to be released. August 1948. These five people, prisoners of the [battle] of Kfar Vitkin, were detained in the prison in Beit She'an according to an arrest warrant from the Chief of Staff of the Defense Forces. They are signed (in print): Yakov Meridor, Eliyahu Lenkin, Hillel Kook, Amitzur (Betzalel Stolnitski) and Moshe Hasson.

* A query to Ben Gurion, regarding the arrest of Hillel Kook, Yakov Meridor and their aforementioned friends. With a short answer from the Minister of Defense. Stencil. 8th of Av 5708 8.12.48. The page in front of us is from the protocol of the 14th meeting. Printed in duplicate.

* A query to Ben Gurion regarding the shooting of one of the Altalena survivors, Moshe Tsetna, in the Yona camp. Letters on the subject. Printed in duplicate.

* An official letter from the Herut movement (from the foundation of the Irgun), to one of the members of the State Council, regarding the bill approved by the Provisional State Council, called the "Emergency bill for the Prevention of Terrorism". The writers obtain the details of the law, and write: "Before us is a total concentration of three The powers of government - legislative, executive and judicial - in one hand, a concentration characteristic only of a totalitarian state". Cheshvan 5709 Signed in print by Menachem Begin and Yakov Meridor.

Rare booklets:

* Booklet on "free port and free airport", by Prof. Shabtai Rosen. On the first page is written: "Not for publication". Three pages are printed in duplicate on one side. November 4th 1948.

* Booklet on the 'Currency Ordinance', 1948. Eight pages. Booklet that was printed in duplicate (of writing on a typewriter), and contains many sections. Among other things, it establishes the Israeli Lira as the official currency of the State of Israel, and repeals the mandatory currency laws. Signed in print by the Prime Minister Ben Gurion, Minister of Justice P. Rosenblit and Minister of Finance Eliezer Kaplan.

* Booklet of nine pages (printed on one side) from the Ministry of Justice: "Report on the actions of the Ministry of Justice from 5.15.48 to 9.15.48". Important content. Printed on 11th of Ellul 9.15.48.

* The list of statutory powers of the district governors and district officers. Six pages printed on one side.

* Booklet of meetings of the People's Council. 7th Iyar 5708. May 16th 1948. Four meetings are reviewed in the booklet. The third meeting is a preparation for the declaration of the state, and the fourth is the declaration.

* Dozens of protocol booklets of the Provisional State Council. In front of us are booklets No. 1-4, 16-40 (a total of 40 booklets were printed), with the last booklet being dated 11 Shevat 5709, February 10th 1949.

State flag and emblem:

* Documentation of discussions in stencil and handwritting whether the flag of the State of Israel and the Zionist Organization will be the same, and what will be in the flag of the State of Israel. Opinions of important people regarding this question are recalled.

* A stencil page with illustrations of proposals for the Merchant Navy Flag, the Naval Services Flag and the Navigators Flag.

* Documents on the State Symbol Committee.

* Prints (suggestions?) of the symbol of the State of Israel.

Provisional State Council:

* A document on behalf of the Provisional State Council regarding the government's instructions to the government of the State of Israel at the United Nations Assembly. The council's decisions are detailed, among others: to oppose any attempt to tear the Negev region from the State of Israel; to insist on the inclusion of Jerusalem in the State of Israel, and more. "Without a quick arrangement of peace in Israel the truce must not be continued". The page is printed on a typewriter, and bears the date: 10.7.48.

* Proposals from the Provisional Council of the State of Israel regarding the conclusions of the UN mediator. Written by Zvi Luria, typewritten. Among other things it says: "The continuous territorial connection between the State of Israel and the city of Jerusalem will be guaranteed. Its Jewish character will be guaranteed, and any plot to surrender all or part of Jerusalem to Arab rule will be thwarted".

* Proposals of Mr. Jacob Riptin, member of the State Council, one page. 12th of Tevet 5709, 1.13.49. Among other things: "The State Council sees as a condition for peace with Egypt the removal of the Egyptian army from the borders of the Land of Israel".

Historical background:

The People's Council was the highest institution of the Yishuv established in preparation for the declaration of the state of israel. It took the place of the Royal Council, in whose name Britain ruled Mandatory Palastine.

The People's Council was established by the Zionist leadership on April 12th, 1948.

The council (the legislative authority) had 37 members, of which 13 members (headed by David Ben-Gurion) were chosen to be appointed to the people's administration (the executive authority), the Yishuv's cabinet and the head of its supreme executive body.

On the 5th of Iyar 5709 (14th of May 1948) the Declaration of Independence took place. At 1 p.m. (after a discussion on various drafts that had been submitted) the People's Council approved the text of the declaration, the " Independence Scroll", the founding scroll of the State of Israel.

The members of the People's Administration sat along a table that stood on a small stage. In front of the table, the members of the People's Council sat on chairs arranged in rows perpendicular to it, also on a raised platform. Dozens of other invitees sat in the hall in a half circle: rabbis, elders of the yishuv, members of the Zionist Executive Committee, party leaders, members of the Hagana headquarters, mayors, writers, newspaper editors, and artists.

At 4 p.m. Ben-Gurion hit the table with a hammer, those present stood up and began spontaneous singing "Ha'Tikva".

Ben-Gurion read the scroll at the solemn ceremony of the Declaration of Independence, from two printed pages. It was announced, among other things, that the People's Administration becomes the provisional government of the State of Israel and the People's Council becomes the Provisional State Council, the legislative institution of the state.

The announcement was broadcasted on the radio all over the country. After Ben-Gurion announced the establishment of the State of Israel, the audience rose to their feet and burst into applause. A wave of joy erupted among the large crowd that gathered at the doors of the building.

Ben-Gurion then read the proclamation of the Provisional State Council, which included, among other things, a decree canceling the White Paper of 1939.

The 37 members of the Provisional State Council approached and signed the parchment that was later attached to the parchment of the Declaration of Independence.

About 40 minutes after entering the hall, Ben-Gurion again hit the table with a hammer and this time called: "The State of Israel has been found! This meeting is over".

At this event, the People's Council changed its name to the 'Provisional State Council'.

The Declaration of Independence stipulates that the temporary institutions (the Provisional State Council and the Provisional Government) will operate until permanent governing institutions are elected. Because of the War of Independence, the establishment of the permanent institutions were postponed, so the temporary institutions served for a longer time than expected. It was not until January 25th 1949 that the elections were held for the Constituent Assembly, whose role was to regulate the operation of state institutions.

The main task assigned to the Provisional State Council was to draft a temporary constitution, founding laws and determine the electoral system. For this purpose, the "Constitution Committee" was established.

On February 16th 1949, the Constituent Assembly convened and enacted the 'Transition Law" (or: the "Transition Constitution"), according to which it became the "Knesset" - the legislative authority. This is how the Constituent Assembly became the first Knesset. At this meeting, a debate developed as to whether it has an obligation to enact a constitution for Israel. In the end, the Knesset decided, on June 13th 1950, not to establish an immediate constitution. Instead it was decided to enact basic laws that will be added to the constitution in due course.

The laws of the Provisional State Council were called orders and were published in an "Official newspaper".

A large and impressive collection, unusual in its scope, the details above are a partial breakdown, we recommend to come by and examine this outstanding collection in person.

The condition of the documents are good. Slight time stains on some pages. Crease marks on some pages. Filing holes on most pages.