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David Ben-GurionFirst Prime Minister of the State of Israel
Date of Birth: 16.10.1886
Country:  Israel |
Content:
- David Ben-Gurion, the Founding Father of Israel
- Zionist Activism
- Interrupted Studies and Exile
- Role in the British Army and Return to Palestine
- Founding of the Histadrut
- Rise in the Labor Movement and Mapai
- Chairman of the Jewish Agency
- Declaration of Independence and Premiership
- Retirement and Later Years
David Ben-Gurion, the Founding Father of Israel
Early Life and EducationBorn in Płońsk, Poland, in 1886, David Ben-Gurion received his early education in a Hebrew-language reformist cheder (elementary school).
Zionist Activism
Ben-Gurion joined the Zionist labor movement Poalei Zion in 1903, and in 1906, he immigrated to Palestine. He was elected to the Central Committee of Poalei Zion in the same year. While working in agricultural settlements, Ben-Gurion remained actively involved in political activism.
Interrupted Studies and Exile
In 1912, Ben-Gurion enrolled in the law faculty of Istanbul University. However, the outbreak of World War I in 1914 prevented his return to Istanbul. In 1915, the Ottoman rulers of Palestine deported Ben-Gurion for his Zionist activities.
Role in the British Army and Return to Palestine
He settled in Egypt and later moved to the United States, where he founded the youth movement Ha-Chalutz. In 1918, Ben-Gurion proposed the formation of Jewish volunteer brigades in the British Army and served as a private in one of them. After the war, Ben-Gurion returned to Palestine and resumed his activism in the labor movement.
Founding of the Histadrut
In 1920, Ben-Gurion played a pivotal role in the establishment of the General Federation of Labour in Eretz-Israel (Histadrut). He was elected its General Secretary in 1921 and held the position for 14 years. Under his leadership, the Histadrut transformed into a powerful workers' organization, encompassing not only trade unions but also a conglomerate of agricultural, industrial, and commercial enterprises.
Rise in the Labor Movement and Mapai
Ben-Gurion visited the Soviet Union in 1923 to participate in the Moscow International Agricultural Exhibition. In 1930, the Mapai labor party was founded, and Ben-Gurion became one of its main leaders.
Chairman of the Jewish Agency
In 1935, Ben-Gurion was elected Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Palestine (Sochnut). He remained in this post until the establishment of the State of Israel.
Declaration of Independence and Premiership
On November 29, 1947, the United Nations passed a resolution dividing Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. On May 14, 1948 (the day the British Mandate ended), David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel in Tel Aviv, becoming the head of the Provisional Government. Ben-Gurion served as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Israel until his resignation in June 1963 (with a brief hiatus from December 1953 to November 1955). He briefly resigned in 1961 due to the "Lavon Affair" but returned to lead the government after the 1961 parliamentary elections.
Retirement and Later Years
In 1963, at the age of 77, Ben-Gurion resigned from the government but remained a member of the Knesset (Israeli parliament). In 1965, he left Mapai and founded the Rafi party. In 1971, at the age of 85, Ben-Gurion retired from the Knesset and politics altogether. He dedicated his remaining years to writing his memoirs and passed away on December 1, 1973, in Kibbutz Sde Boker.
