The Eretz-Israel Museum - and the Declaration of Independence

In Tel-Aviv on Tuesday, we visited the Eretz-Israel Museum which is the site where on May 14, 1948, David Ben Gurion read the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel. The photo above shows the spot where David Ben Gurion sat when he read the declaration, and the microphone he used.

Our guide, Avi Ben Yosef, emphasized again and again to us the importance of this declaration. It specifically provided for guarantees for equal treatment regardless of race or religion or sex. As Avi told us, "Here in Israel we still do not have a constitution, so this Declaration of Independence is very important because it sets out people's rights."

A brief quote from the Declaration of Independence follows:

"It [the State of Israel] will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations."

For those who want to see the whole Declaration of Independence, it can be found at
http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/peace%20process/guide%20to%20the%20peace%20process/declaration%20of%20establishment%20of%20state%20of%20israel