Description:

Ben-Gurion David

Ben-Gurion tries to keep the scales of power in the Knesset in his favor


Autograph Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion” as Minister of Defense, in Hebrew, one page, 5.5” x 8”, museum quality framed to 20.5" x 15.5". Sdeh Boker [Israel, May 5, 1954. To Dr. Ben-Zion Ben Shalom. Two file holes in blank right margin. With English translation. On lined paper. Fine condition.




Dr. Ben-Zion Ben Shalom (1907-1968) was Director of the Jewish Agency’s Youth and Hechalutz Department. Formed in the 1880s, Hechalutz was an unofficial international association of Jewish youth whose aim was to train its members to settle in the Land of Israel.




In full, “I am pleased that our State is a secular state and not under a religious regime. Unluckily, religion has not yet left politics since the religious parties acted during the Congresses prior to the establishment of the State. I do not object to the spreading of religion in the way it is done in all democratic states through synagogues, Yeshivas and youth movements – and that the religious will join and prove their persuasive ability in the leading parties. This will happen only if the State introduces the regional voting system instead of the current proportional system.”




“In an attempt to stabilize the political system, Ben Gurion proposed a new electoral system that would replace direct proportional elections with regional. Mapai approved the plan at the end of 1954, but it failed to pass in the Knesset, as most parties feared it will benefit mostly Mapai, bringing them an easy majority of Knesset seats.” --- from Knesset.gov.il




Ben-Gurion headed Mapai, a workers’ party, since it was established in 1930. Israel has had an electoral system based on nationwide proportional representation since it was founded. The number of seats which every party receives in the Knesset is proportional to the number of voters who voted for it.


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