May 14, 1948, 77 years ago, the State of Israel was proclaimed

May 14, 1948 (5 Iyar 5708 in the Jewish calendar), 77 years ago, the State of Israel was proclaimed. This day became a defining moment not only for the Jewish people but for the history of the entire world. After the end of World War II and the destruction of nearly one-third of the Jewish community in Europe, the initiatives for creating a Jewish state gained enormous significance. On this day, not only independence was proclaimed, but a new stage in the fight for sovereignty began.

Interestingly, 9 out of the 25 signatories of the Declaration of Independence of Israel were born in Ukraine. This underscores the deep historical connection between Israel and Ukraine:

• Moshe Shertok (Sharett) — born in Kherson
• Yitzhak Ben-Zvi — born in Poltava
• Kalman Kahana — born in Brody (Lviv region)
• Rachel Cohen-Kagan — born in Odessa
• Golda Meirson (Meir) — born in Kyiv
• Daniel Oster — born in the village of Knyahyny (now part of Ivano-Frankivsk)
• Berel Reputur — born in Ruzhin (Zhytomyr region)
• Mordechai Shatner — born in Sniatyn (Ivano-Frankivsk region)
• Ben-Zion Sternberg — born in Chernivtsi

The Beginning of the Struggle for Independence

The conclusion of World War II brought victory over Nazism, but for the Jews, it was not yet the end of their trials. The British, controlling Palestine, restricted the repatriation of Jews to this territory, which marked the beginning of the struggle for free entry. The answer to this was the creation of the “Jewish Resistance Movement”, whose goal was to fight the British authorities for the opening of pathways to Palestine. Over four years, from 1944 to 1948, illegally and secretly, through the sea blockade, approximately 85,000 people were transported.

UN and the Partition of Palestine

On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution to partition Palestine into two states, leading to protests from Arab countries. This decision concerned the territory where the Jewish state project was to be created. The war, which began between the Arabs and the Jews, continued even until May 14, 1948, when, after the end of the British mandate, the State of Israel was proclaimed.

“Since our ancestors dreamed of returning to the Promised Land, this dream has become a reality,” — David Ben-Gurion.

How the Declaration of Independence of Israel was Written

The Declaration of Independence of Israel was the most important legal document, proclaiming the creation of a Jewish state on its historical homeland — in Palestine. The text of the document was prepared by a group of Jewish movement leaders, including David Ben-Gurion, who was one of the main authors. Several draft versions were created first, and in the process of working on the Declaration, political figures such as Moshe Shertok (Sharett), Tzvi Berenson, and Pinhas Rosen participated.

At the final session of the National Council on May 14, 1948, the text was approved, and a few hours later, it was read out at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. This event marked a turning point in the history of Israel. The Declaration was signed by 25 members of the National Council, including important figures like David Ben-Gurion, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, Shimon Peres, and Golda Meirson (Meir).

May 14, 1948

On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the creation of an independent Jewish state. The proclamation was made on Friday at 16:00, eight hours before the end of the British mandate on Palestine, in the building that housed the Tel Aviv Museum of Art (formerly the home of Meir Dizengoff) on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv. The time was chosen so that the ceremony could end before the onset of Shabbat. The location was chosen to avoid any religious or political bias and to prefer a less conspicuous building, considering the possibility of a bombing.

Invitations to the ceremony were sent out on the morning of May 14 with a request to keep the event a secret. The final text of the Declaration was approved an hour before the ceremony began, quickly printed, and delivered at 15:59. On the way, the vehicle carrying the text was stopped by the police for speeding, but the driver, without a license, managed to avoid the fine by explaining that he was delaying the proclamation of the new state. After the Declaration of Independence was read out, it was signed by 25 members of the National Council, leaving space for the signatures of 12 more members, who were locked in besieged Jerusalem. The ceremony was broadcast by the “Kol Yisrael” radio station.

The Text of the Declaration was considered over five days, from May 9, 1948. The final version was accepted at the session of the National Council at 15:00 on May 14, 1948. The discussions covered borders, the name of the state (various options were suggested, including “Eretz-Israel”, “Zion”, and others, but “State of Israel” was chosen), and the mention of God in the conclusion (it was decided to use the formulation “Fortress of Israel”, suitable for everyone). The Declaration also called for the convening of a Constituent Assembly, which would adopt the constitution. In January 1949, the Constituent Assembly was elected, which soon became known as the Knesset of the 1st convocation. The Knesset decided that basic laws would be adopted, which would later form part of the formal constitution.

War for Independence and its Consequences

After the proclamation of independence, the armies of five Arab countries invaded the territory of the newly formed Israel, leading to a war that lasted 15 months. In this war, over 6000 Jews were killed. However, Israel not only defended its independence but also began the path to creating a strong and prosperous country.

Independence Day in History and Modernity

May 14 became not only the beginning of a new era for Israel but also a symbol of the struggle for dignity and freedom. This day is important not only for Israelis but for the Jewish people worldwide. The memory of these events inspires the struggle against any challenges of the modern world, particularly in the case of Putin’s Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Israel continues to be an example of resilience and the fight for its ideals. As today, so in the future, it is important to preserve this memory and pass it on to future generations. Ukraine, like Israel, is in a situation where sovereignty and independence are the main goals, and therefore cooperation between these two nations is extremely important for ensuring stability and development.

NAnews always keeps track of events related to the relations between Israel and Ukraine. Read more on our website.