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Israel's Early Diplomatic Struggles
From the Debates of the First Knesset
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President Chaim Weizmann Opens the First Knesset - 14 February 1949
On 25 January 1949, nationwide elections took place for the Constituent Assembly, which converted itself into the First Knesset. The first sittings took place in Jerusalem.
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Armistice Agreements with Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan - 4 April 1949
"This agreement...is purely military. It does not determine anything political or territorial" - Ben-Gurion.
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Armistice Agreement with Syria - 20 July, 1 August 1949
Some of the formulations of the agreement, kept deliberately vague, gave rise to serious controversies and incidents in the years to come.
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Prime Minister Ben-Gurion on Jerusalem and the Holy Places - 5 December 1949
"We hope that the religions which honor Jerusalem's sanctity...will honor Israel's rights in Jerusalem" - Ben-Gurion.
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Transferring the Knesset and Cabinet to Jerusalem - 13 December 1949
"The enforced division of Jerusalem...unjustifiably discriminates against the natural, historical right of the Jewish nation" - Ben-Gurion.
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Annexation of West Bank by Jordan - 3 May 1950
Only Great Britain and Pakistan recognized Jordan's annexation of the West Bank.
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Foreign Minister Sharett on the Situation with Syria
- 14 May 1951
Syria regarded itself as the only invading Arab country which had not been defeated by Israel, and massively violated the 1949 armistice agreement.
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Glossary of Israel's Founding Parties and Personalities
Over 600 terms -- a short course in the landmarks of modern Israeli history (large file - 154k)
The above excerpts are from Major Knesset Debates, 1948-1981, edited by JCPA Fellow Netanel Lorch.
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About Major Knesset Debates, 1948-1981
6 volumes, 2,516 pages
"Indispensable to anyone who wishes to understand the currents of thought and action which have agitated the political life of Israel and the surrounding world."
-- Abba Eban
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Major Knesset Debates -- Contents
Covering 180 major topics of debate during 1948-1981
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