April 12 1948 – 3 Nisan 5708
A provisional government known as the People’s Administration, whose members were drawn from a parallel People’s Council, was set up by the Jewish National Council to take over government of Mandate Palestine in preparation for the declaration of the State of Israel. A month later, in one of its final meetings, the People’s Administration discussed American secretary of state General George Marshall’s proposal that statehood should be deferred and a truce negotiated with representatives of the local Arab population. The fear was that the armies of all surrounding Arab states would attack the Jewish population of the new state as soon as it was declared, destroying it even as it was created. Marshall’s suggestion was rejected, and on 5 Iyar, May 15 1948, David Ben Gurion announced the establishment of the State of Israel and read out its declaration of independence.
The People’s council immediately became the country’s parliament, the Knesset, and the People’s Administration was transformed into an interim government until such time as hostilities ceased and elections could be held.
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