Independence and Politics: Crossroads in the Shaping of Israel’s Political System

Independence and Politics delves deeply into the political landscape of Israel during the years 1947-1949. Weaving together a wealth of original sources and emphasizing domestic politics, Meir Chazan offers a comprehensive analysis of the critical factors that contributed to the establishment and early governance of the State of Israel.

Chazan explores the formation of governing institutions in the transition from a voluntary society to typical patterns of statehood. He investigates the shocks that led to these institutions’ formation and the critical decision to declare statehood. Additionally, he provides a detailed account of the election campaign for the Constituent Assembly, which was the forerunner of the First Knesset, and the struggle to attain the United States’ de facto and de jure recognition of Israel.

Insightful and informative, Independence and Politics provides a fresh perspective on the establishment of the State of Israel. Chazan’s analysis and expert commentary offer an unparalleled understanding of the challenges faced by the fledgling state and the decisions that shaped its future.

Meir Chazan is Associate Professor in the Department of Jewish History at Tel Aviv University. He is the author of Moderation: The Moderate View in Hapo’el hatza’ir and Mapai, 1905-1945 (in Hebrew) and Jewish Women and the Defense of Palestine: The Modest Revolution, 1907-1945.