On 20 Kislev 5708, דוד בן-גוריון DAVID BEN-GURION presented political principles for the future state to the Histadrut Executive Committee. His diary records support for immigration by יהודים YEHUDIM, democratic government, individual liberty, equal elections, a national coalition, and friendship between יהודים YEHUDIM and Arabs. It also records his criticism of the proposed borders and ירושלים YERUŜALAYIM's planned international status, alongside his view that the United Nations decision was a major achievement.1

The entry captures one leader's argument in a political meeting. It does not prove that the Committee adopted every principle as a binding resolution, that they became settled policy, or that cooperation between יהודים YEHUDIM and Arabs was already secure. It does show political leaders of יהודים YEHUDIM debating the institutions of sovereignty while the English Empire still held responsibility for law and order.

How is this dated?

The Ben-Gurion Archive dates the diary entry to 3 December 1947, which converts by daytime to 20 Kislev 5708. The archive's English translation and Hebrew transcription were inspected; the manuscript image and the Histadrut meeting minutes were not.2

Guided reflections

  • What did Ben-Gurion's principles say about the institutions leaders of יהודים YEHUDIM intended to build before the Mandate ended?
  • Which meeting minutes would establish whether the Executive Committee accepted, amended, or rejected his proposals?

Footnotes

  1. https://bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il/en/node/11502 Diary entry dated 3 December 1947, archival record 219094; English archive translation and Hebrew transcription. ↩
  2. https://bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il/en/node/11502; https://www.hebcal.com/converter?cfg=json&g2h=1&gd=3&gm=12&gy=1947 ↩