Key points
What to understand first
- The document places modern statehood within a long Jewish national story.
- Israel would be open for Jewish immigration and the ingathering of exiles.
- It promises equality irrespective of religion, race or sex.
- It guarantees freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture.
- It appeals to Arab inhabitants to participate as equal citizens and offers peace to neighbouring states.
Primary documents
Six promises in one founding text
Jewish peoplehood “the Jewish people was born in Eretz-Israel”
The declaration presents sovereignty as national restoration. 12
Immigration “open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles”
Refuge and return become responsibilities of a Jewish state. 12
Equality “complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants”
Citizenship is promised irrespective of religion, race or sex. 12
Conscience and culture “freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture”
The founding text protects plural religious and cultural life. 12
Arab inhabitants “participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship”
The declaration calls for civic participation in the new state. 12
Neighbouring states “peace and good neighbourliness”
Israel’s founding appeal looked toward cooperation and common development. 12
A Jewish state with civic commitments
The document does not treat Jewish national character and equal citizenship as opposites. It states both as founding commitments. 12
A standard written into the founding moment
Evidence
Sources for this article
- S12Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel
Knesset archive. Statehood, equality language and appeal to Arab inhabitants.
- S75Israel’s Proclamation of Independence
Israel State Archives. Archival presentation of the declaration and statehood.