WMHSMUN XXXIV

First Israeli Knesset 1949

Background Guide

“Unprecedented committees. Unparalleled debate. Unmatched fun.” Letter From the Director

Dear Delegates,

My name is Kate Hentz, and I am ecstatic to be your director for The First Israeli Knesset. I am a sophomore at the College majoring in International Relations, and I hope to minor in Arabic Studies. I’m from the tiny town of Lexington, Virginia, where I was a member of Model UN since my freshman year of high school. In high school, I traveled to multiple college conferences and directed committees at our own conference. Since I joined the International Relations Club, I have been a rapporteur at WMHSMUN, our high school conference, a director for WMIDMUN, a director for &MUN, a member of the &MUN Secretariat, and now your director for WMHSMUN. This will be my first time directing in a high school conference, and I cannot wait to direct this amazing committee. Outside of Model UN, I am a member of Amnesty International and a social sorority on campus. In my free time, you can find me practicing Arabic in local coffee shops, sleeping on the Sunken Gardens, and buying absurd amounts of cheese at the Cheese Shop.

I want to remind all of you that this is a learning experience for everyone. WMHSMUN is the perfect place to learn about diplomacy, parliamentary procedure, International Relations, and current events. An online conference will not be easy, but we’re all in this together. When preparing for this conference, I encourage all of you to research your legislator’s party and position on each topic because they will differ from each other. In Model UN, you must represent the position you have taken, not your own opinions. I am very interested in the first Israeli Knesset because it set the stage for one of the most tumultuous conflicts that continues to be on the news today. Furthermore, it is full of large political figures all with different positions and agendas for Israel. Thank you all for joining this committee; I cannot wait to see your solutions to these issues in October!

Kate Hentz [email protected] Background Guide – First Israeli Knesset 1949

Introduction

In February of 1949, as the War of Independence was coming to an end, a body of 120 newly elected legislators convened to discuss the future of the first government of Israel. The legislative body functioned as a unicameral parliament, where multiple parties selected their representatives to propose laws that lined up with their beliefs. In a parliamentary legislature, where no single party holds a majority, parties form coalitions to push their similar agendas into amendments. However, in 1949 party members were not pushing for amendments and new laws, but the actions and policies of a new country on the world stage (The Knesset: History & Overview). In the First Israeli Knesset there were multiple parties that saw different futures for the country of Israel. The largest party faction was the Mapai Party. The Mapai party believed in a government’s active role in the citizen’s life by providing social services such as workers’ aid, health funds, youth movements, and a strong education system. In order to maintain a majority, the Mapai party formed a coalition with the United Religious Front, the Progressive Party, the Sephardim and Oriental Communities and the Arab minority list (Mapai). The United Religious Front was the third largest party and stressed Judaisim’s significant involvement in the government’s decisions and citizen’s lives (United Religious Front). The Progressive Party focused on socio-economic issues, such as their support for private enterprise, and the separation of church and state (Progressive Party). Similar to the Progressive Party, the Sephardim and Oriental Communities believed in private enterprise, a secular state, property rights, and a capitalist economy (Sephardim and Oriental Communities). In opposition to this coalition, was the Mapam Party, the second largest party, and collection of smaller parties that held few seats. The Mapam Party pushed for a Marxist economy and favored Arab rights and their protection from increasing Israeli settlements (Mapam). Although many expect parties in the same coalitions to agree on many issues it is important to remember that they often substantially disagree on a number of issues regarding the creation of a new government. For example, The Mapai Party’s coalition may be predominantly right winged in their political beliefs, but the coalition is full of differing opinions on religion’s role in the government (Mapai). However, in the year 1949, the Knesset members must not only focus on their view of their government’s

2 Background Guide – First Israeli Knesset 1949 fundamentals, but the immediate issues their country is facing after the War of Independence. Before they can decide the fate of a new constitution, they must immediately respond to the pressing issues of Arab refugee crisis and the new surge of immigration.

Topic 1: The War of Independence Aftermath and Palestinian Rights

In May of 1948, despite the continuation of the War of Independence, Israel declared its independence. As a result, fighting intensified in the region as surrounding Arab countries invaded Palestinian land to fight off Israeli forces. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled their homes and villages to neighboring countries to avoid the violence (Jones and Bickerton). As Israel forces continued to gain momentum, they burned many of the villages they came across to encourage further Arab expulsion and gain strategic land for the war. By the end of 1948 close to 700,000 Palestinians were displaced and 160,000 remained in Palestinian land (Timeline). In February of 1949, Israel signed an armistice with surrounding Arab nations, such as Egypt and Lebanon, and obtained the majority of Palestinian land in dispute. In accordance with the armistice, Jordan gained occupation of the West Bank and Egypt gained control of the Gaza Strip. Therefore, many Palestinians continued to take flight to the refugee camps lining their borders. The world witnessed the massive refugee crisis and the United Nations took action as refugee camps became severely overcrowded. In Resolution 194, the United Nations urged Israel to allow refugees to come back to their homes and offer compensation to the refugees whose homes were destroyed in the war. However, in the beginning of 1949 Israel only allowed around 100,000 refugees to return (Jones and Bickerton). At the time of the First Knesset, Palestinians represented about one-eighth of the population in Israel. Most of the Palestinian minority had their land confiscated in the war, and along with it their ability to farm which was their means of life. The Knesset must address how they will economically integrate Palestinians into their country. Furthermore, they must decide how to maintain peace with the Palestinians

3 Background Guide – First Israeli Knesset 1949 as well their rights in this new country. As for the Palestinian refugees, the new government must decide whether they should continue to accept more refugees, offer them compensation, aid the refugee camps conditions, or urge surrounding Arab countries to integrate them (Timeline).

Questions to Consider 1. What proactive steps can the Knesset do to ensure peace among Israeli and Palestinian citizens? 2. How can the Knesset help economically integrate Palestinians that lost their land and previous jobs? 3. How will the Knesset address the rising Refugee crisis along Israel’s borders? 4. What proactive measures can Israel take with Egypt and Jordan on their border to ensure security and peace in the region?

Topic 2: The Immigration Crisis

Immediately after Israel declared independence it encountered its largest surge of immigration to date. In just one year, over 200,000 Jewish immigrants came to the shores of Israel. The first influx of immigrants was primarily Holocaust survivors followed by Jewish migrants from Africa and Asia. The two large groups of immigrants had considerable differences. While the European survivors were older with few children and generally well educated, the migrants from Asia and Africa brought large families and had little education. These demographics presented an onslaught of new challenges for Israel. The larger number of older immigrants could not participate in the workforce and came to Israel with little to support themselves. The increase in children and youths from Africa and Asia would have to be placed in schools, but Israel still did not have a clear picture of what their public education system would look like. Furthermore, the majority of immigrants had little experience in the agriculture sector, for which at the time Israel had a dire shortage of workers (Kaplan). One of the greatest concerns facing Israel was the replacement and finding homes for the 200,000 new immigrants. A small number of immigrants settled in the Arab villages that were not destroyed, but they filled up quickly and intensified hostility with the Palestinians. More than 90,000 of the immigrants settled into tent camps. In these tent camps, families would live in small shacks made of tin, cloth, or wood. Camps would also

4 Background Guide – First Israeli Knesset 1949 have a small shack for an infirmary, synagogue, grocery store, and school. Families would live in these shacks with no electricity or running water, and no knowledge of when they would have a better home. Scarce work opportunities were available to the families nor adequate education for their children. Camps had scarce amounts of public bathrooms and showers leaving many susceptible to diseases as well (Kaplan). New immigrants also faced hostility from prior-Israeli citizens. While most immigrants came from societies with little industrialization and more traditional ideas, such as women’s place in the household. Israeli citizens were well acquainted in modernized cities and believed women had a role in the household and the professional work environment. These differences often caused conflict between Israeli authorities and the immigrants they judged as too “primitive” and “backward” (Kaplan). In the First Knesset, legislators must find a way to help new immigrants into rather hostile communities. In addition, Israel needs to evaluate how to integrate immigrants into the economy and out of the tent camps.

Questions to Consider 1. How can the Knesset help improve the quality of life in the tent camps? 2. What steps can Israel take to start moving immigrants from the tent camps to Israeli cities and settlements? 3. What jobs can Israel create for immigrants with little work experience and age restrictions? 4. How can Israel help unify its citizens and new immigrants despite their differences?

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Works Cited

Jones, Arnold Hugh Martin, and Ian J. Bickerton. “Palestine and the Palestinians (1948–67).” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 24 Feb. 2020, www.britannica.com/place/Palestine/Palestine-and-the-Palestinians-1948-67. Kaplan, Jonathan. “The Mass Migration of the 1950s.” The Jewish Agency for Israel , The Jewish Agency, 26 May 2015, archive.jewishagency.org/society-and-politics/content/36566. “The Knesset: History & Overview.” Jewish Virtual Library , American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/history-and-overview-of-the-knesset. “Mapai: The Workers Party of the Land of Israel.” The Israel Democracy Institute, IDI, en.idi.org.il/israeli- elections-and-parties/parties/mapai/. “Mapam: United Workers Party.” The Israel Democracy Institute, IDI, en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and- parties/parties/mapam/. “Progressive Party.” The Israel Democracy Institute, IDI, en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and- parties/parties/progressive-party/. “Sephardim and Oriental Communities.” The Israel Democracy Institute, IDI, en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and- parties/parties/sephardim-and-oriental-communities/. “THE STATE: Legislature: The Knesset.” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State of Israel . “Timeline: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict ~ 1949.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 14 Oct. 2008, www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/uncategorized/timeline-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict-1949- 1973/2772/. “United Religious Front.” The Israel Democracy Institute, IDI, en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and- parties/parties/united-religious-front/.

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