The Dan Hadani collection, now opened to the public at the National Library of Israel, features hundreds of photos from the nation's history taken over a 35-year period. Among the rare moments immortalized in the photographs are David Ben-Gurion visiting Moshe Dayan after the latter was injured during an archeological dig; author S. Y. Agnon receiving the news that he had won the Nobel Literature Prize; Ariel Sharon and Rehavam Ze'evi during the Four Days March, and many others.
The collection of media photographs from the Israel Press & Photo Agency (IPPA) serves as another angle into Israeli history, society and culture during the second half of the 20th century.
Former Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion visits then defense minister Moshe Dayan after the latter was injured during an archeological dig, March 1968 (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
Dan Hadani, a resident of Givatayim, is a Holocaust survivor who made aliyah to Israel and served in the IDF Spokesman's Unit, where he was first exposed to the world of mass media.
He founded the IPPA in 1965 and it remained active until 2000. Hadani used to work with mostly amateur photographers, and the collection contains photographs from some 200 different photographers.
Deputy IDF chief Ezer Weizman and defense minister Moshe Dayan at the opening of the IDF exhibition, August 1968 (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
Col. Ariel Sharon, center, with Maj. Gen. Rehavam Ze'evi during the Four Days March in 1966 (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
Minister Moshe Dayan with Yitzhak Navon at the first Rafi Party convention, January 1964 (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
Defense minister Moshe Dayan at the opening of the IDF exhibtion, August 1968 (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
Throughout the agency's 35 years, it collected photographs sent from photographers from all across the country. These photos document Israel from the days before the Six-Day War and until the second intifada: Wars, peace accords, settlements, terror attacks, protests, political upsets, cultural events and more.
Alongside those, there are also photos depicting day-to-day life, which allow for a glimpse into Israeli society and culture as it was during the second and third generations since the establishment of the state.
Author S.Y. Agnon after being told he had won the Nobel Literature Prize, August 1966 (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
Actor Chaim Topol, September 1968 (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
Then MK Shulamit Aloni at the inauguration ceremony for the Knesset building, September 1966 (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
Actor and singer Arik Lavie and wife actress Shoshik Shani, September 1969 (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
Politician Geulah Cohen with poet Abba Kovner, December 1968 (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
Prime minister Golda Meir and Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek, May 1969 (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
President Zalman Shazar during the 1967 Independence Day parade (Photo: Dan Hadani, of the IPPA collection) (צילום: דן הדני, מתוך אוסף IPPA, הספרייה הלאומית)
The collection's importance lies mostly in the fact Hadani worked primarily with foreign agencies. Unlike Israeli photographers and media, whose angle of photography and coverage was news-based and often cynical, the photographs in the collection feature a different look at the nation, as seen from the eyes of foreigners.
