The Israeli Declaration of Independence: Between Prophetic Message and Constitutional Platform

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The “Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel” (May 14, 1948) announced the founding of a Jewish state in the land of Israel. Its text referred to past events within a hopeful futurist outlook that addressed fundamental concerns including name, definition, borders, religion, and rights. Were its words meant to convey a prophetic vision, or were they intended to constitute a concrete plan? Does the document have any legal authority, or was its promulgation a mere ceremonial gesture? This lecture will shed light on the meaning and status of the declaration through its more than seven decades of existence.