PRIME MINISTER DAVID BEN-GURION (ISRAEL) - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/24/1956 - HFSID 82258

DAVID BEN-GURION
Typed letter in Hebrew to Shlomo Zemach: "I deeply love the Israel Defense Forces." Signed by the Prime Minister in the year of the Sinai War (1956).
TLS: "D. Ben-Gurion" in Hebrew as Israeli Prime Minister, 1 page, 6½x7¾. Jerusalem, 1956 April 24. To Shlomo Zemach, Jerusalem. In part: "I received your letter. I do not agree with you, I confess however again that I deeply love the Israel Defense Forces for I see in the idea not only a state vital to our defense but also vital in the education of the masses in Israel, a deep devotion to our beliefs and an instrument in the bringing together of immigrants...." Noted that a carbon copy was sent to Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was formed following the founding of Israel in 1948 to "defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the State of Israel" and "to protect the inhabitants of Israel and to combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily life." Israel became independent on May 14, 1948. On that day, David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973) became the Chairman of the Provisional State Council, a post he held until May 17th, when Chaim Weizmann became Head of the Council and Ben-Gurion became Prime Minister. Ben-Gurion was Israeli Prime Minister from May 17, 1948 to December 7, 1953 and from November 2, 1955 to June 21, 1963. "Time" magazine called him "part Washington, part Moses...the architect of a new nation". Moshe Sharett was Prime Minister from 1953-1955. Shlomo Zemach (1886-1974) had immigrated to Palestine with Ben-Gurion in 1906. He became a prominent Israeli author. File holes at right edge. Pencil notation (unknown hand) in lower right. Light horizontal and vertical folds touch signature. Otherwise, fine condition.