1. What goals did the state of Israel set for itself upon its establishment as a Jewish democratic state? What sources are these goals based on?
2. The modern state of Israel does not have a constitution rather a series of basic laws. In recent years, it has been suggested that this document become Israel's constitution. What is your opinion on the matter?
Declaration of Establishment of State of Israel
14 May 1948
| THE DECLARATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL May 14, 1948
On May 14, 1948, on the day in which the British Mandate over a Palestine expired, the Jewish People's Council gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum, and approved the following proclamation, declaring the establishment of the State of Israel. The new state was recognized that night by the United States and three days later by the USSR.
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After being forcibly exiled from their land, the people kept faith with it throughout their Dispersion and never ceased to pray and hope for their return to it and for the restoration in it of their political freedom.
Impelled by this historic and traditional attachment, Jews strove in every successive generation to re-establish themselves in their ancient homeland. In recent decades they returned in their masses. Pioneers, ma'pilim[(Hebrew) - immigrants coming to Eretz-Israel in defiance of restrictive legislation] and defenders, they made deserts bloom, revived the Hebrew language, built villages and towns, and created a thriving community controlling its own economy and culture, loving peace but knowing how to defend itself, bringing the blessings of progress to all the country's inhabitants, and aspiring towards independent nationhood.
In the year 5657 (1897), at the summons of the spiritual father of the Jewish State, Theodore Herzl, the First Zionist Congress convened and proclaimed the right of the Jewish people to national rebirth in its own country.
This right was recognized in the Balfour Declaration of the 2nd November, 1917, and re-affirmed in the Mandate of the League of Nations which, in particular, gave international sanction to the historic connection between the Jewish people and Eretz-Israel and to the right of the Jewish people to rebuild its National Home.
The catastrophe which recently befell the Jewish people - the massacre of millions of Jews in Europe - was another clear demonstration of the urgency of solving the problem of its homelessness by re-establishing in Eretz-Israel the Jewish State, which would open the gates of the homeland wide to every Jew and confer upon the Jewish people the status of a fully privileged member of the comity of nations.
Survivors of the Nazi holocaust in Europe, as well as Jews from other parts of the world, continued to migrate to Eretz-Israel, undaunted by difficulties, restrictions and dangers, and never ceased to assert their right to a life of dignity, freedom and honest toil in their national homeland.
In the Second World War, the Jewish community of this country contributed its full share to the struggle of the freedom- and peace-loving nations against the forces of Nazi wickedness and, by the blood of its soldiers and its war effort, gained the right to be reckoned among the peoples who founded the United Nations.
On the 29th November, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a Jewish State in Eretz-Israel; the General Assembly required the inhabitants of Eretz-Israel to take such steps as were necessary on their part for the implementation of that resolution. This recognition by the United Nations of the right of the Jewish people to establish their State is irrevocable.
This right is the natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate, like all other nations, in their own sovereign State.
ACCORDINGLY WE, MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF ERETZ-ISRAEL AND OF THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT, ARE HERE ASSEMBLED ON THE DAY OF THE TERMINATION OF THE BRITISH MANDATE OVER ERETZ-ISRAEL AND, BY VIRTUE OF OUR NATURAL AND HISTORIC RIGHT AND ON THE STRENGTH OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HEREBY DECLARE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JEWISH STATE IN ERETZ-ISRAEL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE STATE OF ISRAEL.
WE DECLARE that, with effect from the moment of the termination of the Mandate being tonight, the eve of Sabbath, the 6th Iyar, 5708 (15th May, 1948), until the establishment of the elected, regular authorities of the State in accordance with the Constitution which shall be adopted by the Elected Constituent Assembly not later than the 1st October 1948, the People's Council shall act as a Provisional Council of State, and its executive organ, the People's Administration, shall be the Provisional Government of the Jewish State, to be called "Israel".
THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
THE STATE OF ISRAEL is prepared to cooperate with the agencies and representatives of the United Nations in implementing the resolution of the General Assembly of the 29th November, 1947, and will take steps to bring about the economic union of the whole of Eretz-Israel.
WE APPEAL to the United Nations to assist the Jewish people in the building-up of its State and to receive the State of Israel into the comity of nations.
WE APPEAL - in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months - to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions.
WE EXTEND our hand to all neighbouring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighbourliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land. The State of Israel is prepared to do its share in a common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East.
WE APPEAL to the Jewish people throughout the Diaspora to rally round the Jews of Eretz-Israel in the tasks of immigration and upbuilding and to stand by them in the great struggle for the realization of the age-old dream - the redemption of Israel.
PLACING OUR TRUST IN THE "ROCK OF ISRAEL", WE AFFIX OUR SIGNATURES TO THIS PROCLAMATION AT THIS SESSION OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE, ON THE SOIL OF THE HOMELAND, IN THE CITY OF TEL-AVIV, ON THIS SABBATH EVE, THE 5TH DAY OF IYAR, 5708 (14TH MAY,1948).
* Published in the Official Gazette, No. 1 of the 5th, Iyar, 5708 (14th May, 1948).
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The goals that the state of Israel set for itself were to provide a home for the historically homeless Jews of the Diaspora, and to create a Jewish state that strives for peace, freedom and total equality in all aspects of life. Goals also include keeping holy sites and relics protected and aligning with the UN. The source of these goals are both the universal humanist ethics of the UN, as well as "the prophets of Israel", in reference to the the prophets of the bible such as Elijah, Nathan or Micah.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with the idea of a constitution. Laws are meant to be followed, but they are more easily changed than a set-in-stone constitutional right or agreement. Constitutions provide a structure for government that is supposed to be eternal, but the writers don't take into account that people and societies change with time. The American constitution, for instance, was supposed to be redrafted every 17 years to account for generational changes, but we've had the same one for over two hundred years, despite it being tailored for 1789 and not 2015. An Israeli constitution would only serve to keep Israel the way it is now, despite the possible need for change in the years to come.
-Noah Arnold
When Israel was set up as a democratic state, its goals were to first and foremost, establish an independent Jewish state in the Jewish homeland, as provided in the Balfour Declaration, and also to be open to Jewish immigration and "the ingathering of the exiles", and to offer political, social, and religious freedom to all its inhabitants. The right of Jews to immigrate to Israel was enacted for many reasons, one of which was to compensate for the British Mandate's severe restriction on Aliyah resulting in the deaths of millions at the hands of the Nazis. The right of Jews to make Aliyah to Israel cemented its position as a safe haven for Jews around the world.
ReplyDeleteThe suggestion that the first initial set of laws Israel had became their constitution seems reasonable to me. The American constitution consists of laws, but also inalienable human rights that cannot be taken away. If this basic set of laws in Israel represents the same thing, that is, the most basic rights a human in the land of Israel can have, then the label of constitution seems applicable to me.
The goals of the Jewish state of Israel were to create a peaceful equal place where immigration is completely acceptable and where holy cites of our people could be maintained and kept in tact.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the idea of this declaration becoming the constitution for the state of Israel is neither a good or a bad thing. Having rules outlined in stone allows for organization. However because we change with time I can understand why some may not want this to be the constitution for Israel.
When Israel was established as a state it had many goals in mind. The first and most important being the ability to have a Jewish state that the all Jews around the world can call home. We had been through so much trauma in the past, and we deserve an independent place that we can live happily, especially where all of our history took place. In terms of the basic laws becoming Israel's constitution, I think it may be a good idea. They have lasted this long without it while keeping relatively peaceful terms with Jews inside the country, so it may not bring such great change. If it's working as a couple laws, yet not a constitution, don't change it. Only if necessary they should.
ReplyDeleteIsrael’s main goal was to set up a Jewish state for all Jews across the world. Israel also was hoping to create a place of peace and equality. I think that if the people of Israel use the Declaration of Independence as a guideline for their basic laws, I’d consider it a constitution. In my mind, it is similar to the American constitution in that it is a set of basic laws that all Americans follow, and that other laws are created as specification and enforcement within those basic laws.
ReplyDelete-Rachael Coleman
The goals that the state of Israel set for itself when it was established as a Jewish democratic state were to create political freedom, religious freedom, and a save place to consider home for the Jewish people. The Jews needed a state from the exile and unfairness that they had faced in Europe.I also think that the Declaration of Independence could also be seen as a Constitution because of the laws that were included in the document.
ReplyDeleteThe establishment of Israel meant hope for many Jews. The hope that they can escape any form of persecution. The hope that they will always have a home. A place for judaism to thrive. These hopes today have become a reality. I believe it is important to establish a constitution so the people of the state can know their exact rights. Basic laws maybe a good thing to look to for crimes but many people need a contract between them and the government. This piece could do as a basis but should be added on to as time progresses
ReplyDeleteThe Jews wanted a land where they can control their own economy and culture, as they had been doing successfully for so many years since the Mapilim revived the Hebrew language and the land. Since after the first 2 waves, Aliyah was highly restricted in the Balfour Declaration, the Jews wanted a land open for any and all other jews to settle and escape persecution.
ReplyDeleteSince the U.S. consitutions outlines the rights that every citizen is entitled to, then this could be a great constitution to enact for Israel. As long as it is clear that these laws will stand for the distant future of Israel, this is a good base for the state of israel, just below the other set of laws.
Israel's goals were to become a complete state, with a strong population, to be recognized by the other countries, and to have good relationships with other countries. The people of Israel wanted to declare themselves a citizens of the country. Although this is a very important document, I don't believe this should be seen as the Constitution. I think a Constitution should set the structure of the government, and I don't believe this does it. As powerful a declaration it is, it isn't a constitution.
ReplyDeleteThe goals of Israel were to become a complete and unified state. They wanted control of their own culture, customs, economy, government, a place where any and all Jews could come settle, etc, you name it. They also strongly wanted recognition from other countries. In relativity to the constitution I think there are many loops in how the laws are now which can be seen as both good and bad. It gives lenience both ways and as long is it's there as something not entirely one sided I don't think it's terrible not to have a constitution. Israel has been doing well enough without one all these years so I don't personally deem it necessary to make a constitution.
ReplyDeleteI think the goal of the Declaration was to create a home. I do not think home is really given an address, but is based of the people there. Before Israel, there wasnt a home. No place in which Saturday was Shabbat, no place that let out of work for Jewish holidays, no place with multiple Kosher dining, and no place for Jewish culture. Just because Israel was a Jewish state, the democracy made it a fair state, in which many people could be a part of. I dont think this really could be a constitution because it was made as a guide line, and thus the declaration can be referred to, but not strictly followed.
ReplyDeleteUpon its establishment as a Jewish democratic state, Israel bequeathed itself the problem of blending religion and modern democracy. These goals are based on sources such as the Tanakh, the Balfour Declaration, and UN resolution 242.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel would serve as an appropriate constitution for the state. The Declaration gives background for the legitimacy of the State and sets a few precedents as to how the State intends to conduct itself, but does not set up stipulations for governmental organization. The Declaration would not be effective as a constitution because it is too selective and vague in how the State of Israel will conduct domestic and international policy.
When Israel was established as a Jewish democratic state they had a few main goals. They wanted to create a state where everyone was treated equal in all aspects of life. They wanted to create a home for the Jews of the diaspora. They also wanted to make sure that holy sights are preserved.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is a good idea for this to become Israel's constitution. Like the USA, it gives basic rights and laws to the people and state of Israel. I think that this would be a good thing to have especially with the conflict. It is very important in free, democratic states that people are gaurunteed basic rights.
The idea of the declaration was that it was supposed to provide a home for the displaced Jews of the world. Since then, I feel like that idea has mutated. While it still accepts Jews, I feel like it has become more of a Westernized symbol than that of a safe haven. Keeping that in mind, I don't feel like this document should be turned into a constitution, just due to the fact that there are more problems that we have now, then we had then. Creating a modern day constitution based of the problems of the old times seems redundant in my opinion, as hypocritical as that may sound.
ReplyDeleteThey set up this country to be a home for all the Jews of the world living in the injustices of the diaspora. So naturally, along this goal, they also had the goal of equality in all aspects of life. Now I do not know whether or not that goal has yet been achieved, but it has been getting slowly better day by day.
ReplyDeleteNow I do not know whether or not I agree with using this declaration as a constitution. For a constitution is different entity of writing than a declaration and therefore should be treated as such. If Israel wants a constitution, they should make one- not use the declaration in replacement of one.
They set up the state of Israel at the end of the British Mandate. The purpose of the state of Israel was to be a home for all diaspora Jews. They had the goals of equality of everything, the holy sights would be preserved, blending religion and democracy. These goals came form the Tanakh, Balfour Declaration, and the UN resolution 242. I think that by not having a constitution is working for the state of Israel. I don't think this declaration should be used as a constitution
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