DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Declaration of Independence: translation

TheUnited NationsPartition Plan (see PALESTINE PARTITION PLAN) of November 1947 provided for the establishment of a Jewish state inPalestine. The date of the termination of theBritish mandatewas set for 15 May 1948, and with that date nearing, theZionistGeneral Council decided that the Jewish people would establish an independent regime in their homeland. This decision, put forth in a resolution, paved the way for the Declaration of Independence. A five-man committee was established to prepare the declaration, and a four-man committee, includingDavid Ben-Gurion, worked out the final draft. The Declaration of Independence was read on 14 May and went into effect the following day. The declaration provides for a Jewish state in the land of Israel, and it recalls thereligiousand spiritual connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, but it does not mention boundaries. It notes that "it will guarantee freedom of religion and conscience, of language,education, and culture." The document does not address the meaning of a Jewish state or the roles that would be played by religious forces and movements (especially by theirpolitical parties) in such an entity.SeeAppendix A.