David Ben-Gurion

David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973) was the chief statesman and political leader of the modern state of Israel. As Israel's first prime minister, Ben-Gurion led the country during the War of Independence and, except for a two-year period from 1953-1955, served as premier from 1948 to 1963.

Born David Gruen, he was educated in Poland and raised by a family with strong Zionist beliefs. At the age of 18, Ben-Gurion taught in a Warsaw Jewish school and joined the Socialist-Zionist group "Poalei Zion" ("Workers of Zion").

Ben-Gurion came to Israel in 1906 and was involved in the creation of the first agricultural workers commune, which would later evolve into the kibbutz. He also helped establish the Jewish self-defense group Hashomar ("The Watchman").

In 1915, after the outbreak of World War I, Ottoman authorities deported Ben-Gurion from Palestine over his political activities. He later returned to Israel as a member of the Jewish Legion, a unit of the British Army.

Ben-Gurion founded the trade unions in Israel and the Histadrut Labor Federation.

He led the struggle to establish the state of Israel and in May 1948 became prime minister and defense minister of the fledgling state.

At the end of 1953, Ben-Gurion retired from politics and retired to the Negev kibbutz of Sde Boker. But in the 1955 Knesset elections, he returned to politics and became defense minister and prime minister.

In 1963, Ben-Gurion resigned as prime minister and Levi Eshkol took over. But ben-Gurion remained politically active, and a rivalry developed between him and Eshkol.

In 1965, the ruling Mapai Party split, with Ben-Gurion establishing the Rafi (List of Israeli Workers) Party which won 10 Knesset seats in the next election.In 1968, Rafi joined Mapai and Achdut Ha'avoda to form the Labor Party, but Ben-Gurion formed a new party called Hareshima Hamamlachtit (The State List) which won just four seats in the 1969 elections.

The following year Ben-Gurion retired from political life and returned to Sde Boker where he passed away in 1973.

Time Magazine named Ben-Gurion one of the top 100 people who shaped the 20th century.

Notable quotes by David Ben-Gurion:

"In Israel, in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles. "