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179 8 THE CREATION OF IS| aELI DEMOC| aCY * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Of all the states created after 1945, Israel is one of the few that has maintained a democratic regime. Certainly it has not been a perfect democracy (and it is doubtful if such a democracy exists), but considering the state of war in which Israel was founded, the tremendous demographic shock waves that rattled it during its early years, and the nature of its immigrants—most of whom came from countries lacking a democratic tradition—there is something miraculous in the speed with which the new state established proper governance, and made that governance democratic. The Mandatory authorities refused to cooperate in any matters pertaining to the November 29, 1947, un resolution because of Arab opposition to it. Therefore there was no orderly transfer of power by the Mandatory authorities to the Jewish government that was to replace it. Furthermore, right up to the eve of the declaration of statehood, it was not clear that the state would indeed be established and become a reality. Nevertheless the leadership had already begun to formulate new structures designed to ensure governmental continuity and prevent anarchy. In April 1948 the Zionist Executive established a People’s Council and a People’s Administration. The former, consisting of thirty-seven members, was a sort of embryonic parliament, as noted in an earlier chapter; the latter, with thirteen members, was an embryonic government. The members of both these bodies came partly from the Jewish Agency Executive elected by the Zionist Congress , and partly from the National Committee elected by the Jews of Palestine. Since the Mandatory government prohibited the establishment of alternative government bodies while it was still in power, these entities were given names emphasizing that the source of their authority was the people, not the state. Once statehood was declared, they became the Provisional State Council and the Provisional Government. Although disagreements among the political parties and di√erent political worldviews and perceptions remained, all shared the sense of being present at an unparalleled, historic, exalted hour. This feeling precluded contentiousness and led to mutual tolerance, cooperation, and willingness to make concessions. Thus representatives of parties that had withdrawn from public o≈ce, such as Agudat Yisrael, the Revisionists, and the Communist Party, participated in both bodies. The excitement was palpable: ‘‘Everyone is moving, there is momentum, everyone is tense and ready,’’ wrote Uri Heinsheimer (Yadin) on April 5. ‘‘It is hardly 180 nation building surprising that one wakes up at five in the morning despite working hard till late at night, who can sleep at a time like this, who would not do anything to live this time even more awake, even more intensively, even closer, more attentive and dedicated?’’∞ Soon afterward he was put in charge of legislation in the Ministry of Justice. A declaration of independence had been drafted that included the Zionist narrative explaining the connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel, the international recognition of the Jews’ right to their country, and the proud declaration of ‘‘our natural and historic right’’ to establish a Jewish state in the Land of Israel. The country’s borders were not mentioned. Ben-Gurion replied to questions about this by noting that even the American Declaration of Independence did not mention borders. The declaration emphasized the nature of the state as a democracy that would ensure complete equality of social and political rights for all its citizens, and it appealed to the neighboring states and their Arab citizens with an o√er of peace. Nevertheless the state was to be a Jewish state, open to Jewish immigration. The declaration was written in a nonreligious spirit, and although the words ‘‘as envisaged by the prophets of Israel’’ appear, it contains no religious concepts. The Mizrachi representatives protested this absence, and in the spirit of those great days a compromise was found whereby the document concluded with the words ‘‘Placing our trust in the Rock of Israel,’’ a nebulous phrase that may be interpreted either as a reference to the Almighty or as a literary expression referring to the Jewish people. The ceremony marking the declaration of statehood at the Tel Aviv Museum was modest. Due to concerns about a possible air raid or another act of sabotage, the location and time of the ceremony were kept secret, but the secret was not as closely guarded as it should have been, and on that Friday afternoon a large crowd gathered outside the building...

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