The ceremony to proclaim independence was to be held in the
Tel Aviv Museum (today known as Independence Hall), but was not widely publicised as it was feared that the British Authorities may attempt to prevent it or that the Arab armies may invade earlier than planned. An invitation was sent out by messenger on the morning of 14 May, telling recipients to arrive at 15:30 and to keep the event a secret. The event was to start at 16:00 (a time chosen so as not to breach the
sabbath), and was to be broadcast live as the first transmission of the new radio station
Kol Yisrael.
Following its approval earlier in the day, the final draft of the declaration was typed at the JNF building. However,
Ze'ev Sharef, who had remained at the building in order to deliver the text, had forgotten to arrange transport for himself. In the end, he had to flag down a passing car and ask the driver (who was driving a borrowed car without a license) to take him to the ceremony. Although Sharef's request was initially refused, he managed to persuade the driver to take him.
[2] However, whilst driving across the city, the car was stopped by a policemen for speeding, though a ticket was not issued after it was explained to him that he was delaying the declaration of independence.
[5] Sharef arrived at the Museum at 15:59.
At 16:00, Ben-Gurion opened the ceremony by banging his
gavel on the table, prompting a spontaneous rendition of
Hatikvah, soon to be Israel's
national anthem, from the 250 guests.
[5] On the wall behind the podium hung a picture of
Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, and two flags, later to become the official
flag of Israel.
After telling the audience "I shall now read to you the scroll of the Establishment of the State, which has passed its first reading by the National Council", Ben-Gurion proceeded to read out the declaration, taking 16 minutes, ending with the words "Let us accept the Foundation Scroll of the Jewish State by rising" and calling on Rabbi
Fishman to recite the
Shehecheyanu blessing.
[5]
[edit] Signatories
A celebratory crowd outside the
Tel Aviv Museum to hear the Declaration.
As leader of the
Yishuv,
David Ben-Gurion was the first person to sign. The declaration was due to be signed by all 37 members of
Moetzet HaAm. However, twelve members could not attend, eleven of them trapped in
besieged Jerusalem and one abroad. The remaining 24 signatories present were called up in alphabetical order to sign, leaving spaces for those not present. Although a space was left for him between the signatures of
Eliyahu Dobkin and
Meir Vilner,
Zerach Warhaftig signed at the top of the next column, leading to speculation that Vilner's name had been left alone to isolate him, or to stress that even a
communist agreed with the declaration.
[5]
When
Herzl Rosenblum, a journalist, was called up to sign, Ben-Gurion instructed him to sign under the name Herzl Vardi, his
pen name, as he wanted more Hebrew names on the document. Although Rosenblum acquiesced to Ben-Gurion's request and legally changed his name to Vardi, he later admitted to regretting not signing as Rosenblum.
[5] Several other signatories later Hebraised their names, including
Meir Argov (Grabovsky),
Peretz Bernstein (then Fritz Bernstein),
Avraham Granot (Granovsky),
Avraham Nissan (Katznelson),
Moshe Kol (Kolodny),
Yehuda Leib Maimon (Fishman),
Golda Meir (Myerson),
Pinchas Rosen (Felix Rosenblueth) and
Moshe Sharett (Shertok). Other signatories added their own touches, including
Saadia Kobashi who added the phrase "HaLevy", referring to the tribe of
Levi.
[7]
After
Moshe Shertok, the last of the signatories, had put his name to paper, the audience again stood and sung Hatikvah, accompanied by the
Palestine Philharmonic Orchestra. Ben-Gurion concluded the event with the words "The State of Israel is established. This meeting is adjourned."
[5]