July 2015 Auction Ends Thursday, July 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/30/2015
Extensive handwritten archive of documents related to the formation of Israel, constituting the most important records of the development of Israel in private hands. In 15 notebooks and approximately 350 handwritten pages, one of Israel's founding fathers Dov Yosef, Military Governor of Jerusalem during the War of Independence and, at various times, Minister of Health, Justice, Rationing and Supply, Agriculture, Trade and Industry, etc., documents the words of the inner sanctum. Written in both Hebrew and English, archive includes content on (1) The Independence War; (2) The Sinai War; (3) Israeli relations with America; (4) The activities and never-before published words in closed-door meetings of Ben-Gurion, Shertok, Meir, Begin, Eshkol and others; (5) The building and empowering of the Israel Defense Forces, weapons trade, and strategic decisions such as unconventional weaponry, guidelines for preemptive warfare, drafts and recruitment, supply resources and purchases, etc.; (6) Critical political decisions during election campaigns; (7) Payments from Germany as retribution for the Holocaust; (8) Foreign affairs discussions and the shaping of foreign policy. From his notes regarding a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, Yosef writes in small part, ''Dulles said U.S. would approve use U.N.E.F. [United Nations Emergency Force] naval units in straits if circumstances warranted. In his views there would be no need for Assembly determination to achieve this result. General Secretary has authority under existing resolutions. It agreed that arrangement this kind would tend prolong U.N.E.F. life which was desirable in itself. Eban referred to inability U.S. guarantee protection Israel flag ships in Gulf. Informed our intention make declaration announcing Israel would if necessary use its forces to protect Israel ships and their right against attack. Declaration to be made within terms Art. 51 [the UN charter specifying the right of a country to defend itself]. Israel hoped U.S. would express its recognition and declaration by Israel. Dulles stated he saw no inherent obstacle to this recognition. U.S. would agree recognize Israel's right protect shipping in accordance Article 51. He would, of course have to see text any such declaration before U.S. would commit itself finally to specific recognition.'' Additional content in chronological order includes: (1948) Document dated 14 November 1948 regarding the government's position on the Negev Desert. David Ben-Gurion explains to newspapers that ''we will be evicted from the NEGEV only by force and that England is playing a dangerous game, wanting to prevent contact and peace between the Jews and the Arabs at any cost, and that America shouldn't be follow them blindly.'' Ben-Gurion explains that Jews in Jerusalem will never accept a foreign regime; (1949) Content dated 6 May 1949 discusses Israel's military structure, and the government's ability to recruit 115,000 people for the military. Other content from that year includes discussion on the pride of Israel's being accepted into the U.N., with Ben-Gurion partly stating, ''...We must stop, in my opinion, Arabs from entering the country in any way and by any means, and they should know that we will not discuss the return of Arabs as long as there is no peace...'';(1956) Content dated 29 July 1956 contains Golda Meir's announcement that the contract for the Suez Canal will be ended, and that the canal is in Egyptian hands. This action by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser led to the Suez Canal crisis which occurred in October and November of that year, won by the Egyptians. The crisis was widely recognized as contributing to the decline of Great Britain as a major world power. Also includes content from 5 August 1956 of that year, in which Ben-Gurion discusses America's hostility towards Israel, as well as a discussion on the Gaza strip in which Ben-Gurion states that a de facto Israeli regime in that portion of the country is the best solution; (1957) Announcement dated 4 August 1957 from Ben-Gurion, in which he states that the Russians are building a nuclear reactor in Egypt, to be used for nuclear power not weaponry. In conversation with two colleagues, Ben-Gurion discusses the benefit of such a project, as it would provide the country with efficient energy for some time; (1959) Content dated 15 January 1959, with Ben-Gurion's description of future Prime Minister Menachem Begin's emotional plea to the Knesset, and how he believes Begin to be misguided in his arguments. Ben-Gurion additionally states the necessity for making friends with any nation that will help them, and stresses the need to unite with Germany, who was willing to help Israel at that point in history; (1960) Ben-Gurion on 17 January 1960 discusses the inevitability of a war with Egypt, and predicts that war will ensue within three years, and that preparations to fortify the military must be made immediately; (1962) Riveting discussion between Ben-Gurion, Yosef, Eshkol and Burg dated 29 May 1962 regarding the verdict in the appeal trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. Conversation takes place just three days before Eichmann's execution which occurred on 1 June 1962 on Israeli soil. Ben-Gurion discusses viewpoints from philosopher and author Martin Buber that executing Eichmann will cause problems for Jewish people for generations. Each book measures 8'' x 12.75''. Very slight creasing to corners. Presented in near fine condition.
Incredible Archive of Internal Israeli Documents Dated 1948-1964 -- Includes 15 Handwritten Notebooks Regarding the Formation of Israel and Its Beginnings as a Nation -- Museum Quality
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