A large collection of documents from the elections to the first Knesset, and from the first year of its ...

A large collection of documents from the elections to the first Knesset, and from the first year of its activity 5708-5709 (1948-1949)

Dozens of important documents, letters, drafts, proposals regarding the election committee for the Constituent Assembly (the Knesset), and protocols of the first meetings of the Knesset.

Guidelines for the government's plan * Documents and letters concerning a bill regarding the property of Germans in Israel * Documents and letters from the 'Standing Committee' * Declaration of opinion of the fired police officers for Independence Day * Summaries of conversations held in the Knesset * A collection of protocols (drafts!) of the first meetings of the Knesset * A stencil booklet 'The Election Ordinance for the Constituent Assembly' * Stencil booklet 'Decisions of the Committee for the Preparation of the Elections for the Constituent Assembly' * The Election Ordinance for the Constituent Assembly * 15 letters from the Secretary of the State Council * An interesting letter from Yakov Meridor on behalf of the Herut Movement, with a request to "add a representative of our movement to the Election Committee" * Letters and documents related to the rescue of the Jews of Arab countries, during the War of Independence * and more

Comprehensive and wide material, one of a kind, from the activities of the first Knesset. The material is divided into three categories:

1. Activity of the Election Committee for the Constituent Assembly.

2. Knesset activity.

3. The draft protocols of the Knesset from its first months.

The Election Committee for the Constituent Assembly – The First Knesset (Iyar 5708-Cheshvan 5709)

Letters, documents, invitations, drafts, decisions, proposals and summaries of decisions, concerning the election committee for the Constituent Assembly (the first Knesset), a committee that acted on behalf of the Provisional State Council, regarding the election constitution and the election ordinance.

The documents are signed in print, and a minority of them are handwritten. In some of the documents there are handwritten proofs and comments, sometimes with substantial content. Several documents deal with a fascinating debate on whether to grant Cypriot exiles the right to vote – on the one hand they are not in Israel, on the other hand they fought for the freedom of the people and the establishment of the state. There is also a reference to the elections among IDF soldiers.

Among the items in the collection:

* Pamphlet in duplicates, the proposal of the committee for the preparation of the electoral constitution for the Constituent Assembly, final version 11.9.48. 'The Constituent Assembly Election Ordinance'. 16 pages, written on one side. Another copy with significant handwritten proofs.

* A stencil booklet with a cover page bearing the solemn title: 'Decisions of the Committee for the Preparation of the Elections for the Constituent Assembly' - from its meetings in the month of Av and Ellul 5708. Three pages (besides the cover) are written on one side. Three copies of this booklet.

* Two copies of the election ordinance for the Constituent Assembly, 1948.

* Invitation to the members of the election committee for the constituent assembly. Signed in the handwriting of A. Federhar, Secretary of the State Council. 3rd of Cheshvan 5709 11.5.48. About 15 additional letters from him, some of them invitations to meetings, signed by him in his own handwriting.

* An interesting letter from Yakov Meridor on behalf of the Herut movement, in which he requested to "add a representative of our movement to the Election Committee ".

* An interesting letter, typed on a typewriter (not signed), regarding the election order for the Constituent Assembly, and in it various mistakes, mainly about the fact that prisoners in prison are not entitled to vote in the elections. Two pages.

* Pamphlet in duplicates, "Election order for the Constituent Assembly, changes regarding the 'final version' of 11.9.48. Two pages.

* The proposals of the committee for the preparation of the electoral constitution for the constituent assembly. 14 pp. 10.27.48. Signed in print by Ben-Gurion and Felix Rosenblit, Minister of Justice.

* The aforementioned committee's proposal - revised version. 28.10.48. 14 pp. Two copies, one of which has an interesting handwritten proofreading.

* Additional suggestions and drafts of the above.

* Booklet in duplicates "Order to extend the validity of emergency regulations - going abroad". 5709 1948. Three pages written on one side.

* Several additional commands in duplicates.

* A proposal from Ben Zion Argov for the method of voting, using a special card and punching it.

* Documents regarding the distribution of votes, according to the method accepted by the Election Commission. Tishrei 5709 10.17.48

* Protocols of meeting No. 26 (9 Cheshvan 5709 11.11.48).

Knesset activity in its first years

Among the items:

* Bundle of pages: "Basic guidelines for the government plan", printed in duplicates. Two copies. One of them contains important corrections and proofreadings in the handwriting of the council member.

* Bundle of pages: "Defence regulations from the mandatory period that are in force".

* Collection of documents and letters regarding a bill regarding the properties of the Germans in Israel. Among other things: "The Knesset's opinion on the claims of pensioners from Germany and Austria"; Letters from the "Association of Pension Recipient Immigrants", and more. 1950

* Collection of documents and letters from the "Standing Committee". Shevat-Adar 5709 March 1949.

* Proposals of government members.

* Expression of opinion of the fired police officers for Independence Day. Polemical, historical and exciting content.

* A letter "to the ministers of the government and the members of the Knesset", from the members of Gahal and Mahal, who fought in the war of independence. "At the same time that we were fighting on the front lines and defending the posts, apartments were seized and handed over to people and by various people whose right of priority over these buildings as far as we are concerned is highly questionable, in this property that soldiers shed their blood to conquer and for its liberation others are constantly taking and selling in a sarcastic manner... We are witness to various scandals regarding the abandoned property...". two pages. Handwritten signatures: "The Joint Committee for the Sheik Munis Beit Yona and Beit Yam Veterans Dormitory". Date: 6.5.1951.

* Bundle of pages: "Laws concerning women in Israel". A few copies. Probably a proposal prepared for the Knesset. Attached is the original manuscript from which the above pages were typed on a typewriter. 5 p.

* Bundle of pages: "Records of the meeting held in the office of the Minister of Justice P. Rosen on the 18th of Cheshvan 5711 (October 29, 1950). 17 p.

* Summaries of various conversations held in the Knesset.

* Booklet on behalf of the Israeli government, "Financial accounting - income and expenditure for the period of April 1, 1949 - December 31, 1949".

* Bundle of pages: "Memorandum on the Courts Bill - 5710. General comments".

* An official invitation on a page of the State of Israel, to the meeting of the committee of the coalition in the Knesset, which will be held "today (11th of Ellul 5709 - 9.5.49), on the agenda: the matter of education and the compulsory service law". Signed Miriam Frenkel.

* Collection of documents on changes in the customs tariff, including brochures on the subject printed in duplicates, with handwritten proofs.

* A bundle of stapled pages regarding the "test service".

* A bundle of stapled pages, from the "Legal Counsel's Office".

* A bundle of pages including the "Interim Report" (submitted to the Prime Minister and  the Minister of Justice) of the Supreme Committee for the Employees of the Government of Israel, with very interesting content, including a reference to the investigation of police officers. 7th of Elul 5709. On the first page is written in red pencil: "Not for publication". Duplicated in stencil.

* Stencil booklet: 'Budget of the Department of Education - 5709. For the meeting of the Education Committee of the Knesset 28th of Nisan 5709, April 27 1949. Six pages (printed on one side) and an attached table.

* A firm letter from the [Second] War Disabled Association. "To this day, the State of Israel is the only country in the world that does not recognize the Jewish war disabled from this war". August 25th 1949.

* Several proposals for the bylaws of the 'Leather Center'.

* Bundle of stapled pages: "Price reduction starting in April', on behalf of the Ministry of Supply and Rationing. A long list of items and products, very interesting. 6 pages written on one side. duplication.

* Booklet (16 pages printed in duplicates on one side): 'Speech of the Minister of Defense in the Knesset on the 20th of Av 5709. 8.15.49). Fascinating historical content. He talks about the security factors that are necessary at this time - massive immigration to Israel, settlement throughout the country, and more.

* Duplicate printed booklet, "Report on the activities of the department during the period July 1948 - March 1949' on behalf of the Relief Ministry, the Department of Social Care for Children and Youth. On the last page is a summary, signed in type by Tzipora Bloch. 32 pages written on one side.

* Duplicate printed pages, various government proposals, with handwritten corrections and proofreadings by one of the Knesset/Government members.

* Bundle of pages: "Decisions of the 16th Knesset session, on the 22nd day of Adar 5709 (March 23rd 1949)".

* The Veterans Law (Return to Work) 5709 - Explanatory notes.

* A folded leaflet, on behalf of the State of Israel - Ministry of Defense - The Soldier's Family Division: "The Constitution of Payments to Soldiers Families". The text is diacriticed. (Kislev 5709). 6 p.

* A bundle of pages on behalf of the War Disabled Association. Adar 5709, March 1949 as well as their correspondence with Ben Gurion (in duplicates). Polemical content.

* Stencil booklet, explanations for the budget proposal of the Ministry of Religion, April-September 1949. 8 [1] page.

* Stencil booklet "Proposal of an estimated budget" by the Ministry of Religion. From the aforementioned period. 21 pages.

Rescuing Arab Jewry

On May 15th 1948, immediately after Israel's declaration of independence, Iraq went to war against the Jewish state. The military regime that was declared in Iraq began to systematically persecute the Jewish citizens. Hundreds of them were arrested under various pretexts and brought before military courts, which sentenced them to prison sentences and heavy fines. A Jew named Shafik Adas was accused by the authorities of subversion, even though he was far from supporting Zionism. After a show trial, and despite international pressure, Adas was hanged in September 1948 in front of his home in the city of Basra. Also in other countries, such as Egypt, Syria and Yemen, the situation was very difficult and serious. At that time there was an awakening in Israel to quickly help the Jews of the Arab countries, and in the collection before us there is important  material related to this activity:

* Resolutions of the protest assembly against the persecution of the Jews in Arab countries. 20th of Adar 5709 (3.21.49)

* Rare booklet - Bulletin No. 1, on behalf of the International League to Save Arab Jewry. 7 pp. duplicates. Fascinating material.

* A signed letter from the chairman of the league to one of the members of the Knesset. "We have just received news about the execution and further imprisonment of Iraqi Jews on charges of communism or Zionism". 3.5.49.

* The league's memorandum to the government of Israel. Hebrew and French. six pages.

Collection of draft protocols of the Knesset from its early days:

* Historical item! The first issue of the first Knesset sessions (the first few pages are missing, starting on page 7). 22.14.1949 15th Shevat 5709. The last page reads: "We, the people of Israel, planted a new tree today, at the behest of past generations and the will of generations to come - the tree of Israel's independence. The Constituent Assembly plants this tree on this day. The nation of Israel is alive and well and it will fulfill the hope of redemption, the renewed hope of two thousand years!". 27 pages.

* Sheet 2, at the top of the cover is printed: 'The State of Israel - The Constituent Assembly – Draft". The second meeting, 16th of Shevat 5709, 2.15.48. 58 pages. Includes a translation from arabic of Knesset member Amin Jurjara's speech. Meeting Chairman Yosef Shprintzik (Chairman of the Provisional State Council) made several announcements, including: "There are no smokers in the Constituent Assembly Hall, which is the Parliament. Please immediately stop smoking in all places; I strongly request that the members of the Constituent Assembly understand that there is no need for interruptions. Speaking from your seat is not helpful, neither heard nor absorbed, it only serves as a hindrance to the interrupter himself."

* The words of the Knesset, third session, meeting 25. 100 pp. (as above, sometimes several pages on one page). 11th of Tevet 1950 20.12.1950 Attached is a page with a "proposed resolution to the Knesset on behalf of the MKY party regarding the re-establishment of the Nazi army', with three sections (unsigned), dated 20.12.50.

* Another sheet, at the top of the title page is printed: "The words of the Knesset - meeting 26". Tel Aviv, 28th of Nisan 5709, 4.27.49. 205 pages (sometimes there are several 'pages' on one page).

And another collection of pages from different meetings. for example:

* Meeting 19, 3.30.49. pp. 71-108. (The beginning and the end are missing).

* Meeting 51 7.5.49. (one page from the meeting, dealing with the throwing of a bomb by IDF soldiers on a synagogue in Jerusalem).

* A page from meeting 52 9th of Tammuz 5709.

* Meeting 68 p. 21-56. 8.15.49. The pages before us deal with security issues.

Good condition. Slight time stains on some pages. Crease marks on some pages. Filing holes on most pages.