Ben-Gurion David (born David Yosef Green) (16.10.1886, Płońsk – 12.12.1973, Tel Aviv) – leader of the Jewish labour movement in Mandatory Palestine and the first Prime Minister of the State of Israel.
In 1903, David Ben-Gurion joined the Zionist movement Poalei Zion, and in 1906, he immigrated to Palestine, where he changed his name. Actively engaged in public affairs, he was immediately elected to the Central Committee of Poalei Zion. He was a staunch advocate for the adoption of Hebrew in all aspects of Jewish life.
From 1911, he participated in the congresses of the Zionist Organisation and Poalei Zion forums. In May 1918, he joined one of the units of the Jewish Legion. In 1920, he was involved in founding the unified labour organisation Histadrut. From 1921 to 1935, he served as the General Secretary of Histadrut.
In the early 1920s, David Ben-Gurion unsuccessfully attempted to establish relations with Soviet trade unions to legalise Zionist-socialist activities in the USSR and facilitate Jewish emigration to Palestine. In the mid-1920s, he introduced the slogan “From Class to Nation”, asserting that the working class, as the driving force of national revival, should play a leading role in Palestine and in the global Zionist movement.
In 1930, the Mapai Labour Party was founded, with Ben-Gurion as its leader. By 1933, he had secured a majority in the governing bodies of the World Zionist Organisation and was elected a member of its Executive Committee. From 1935 to 1948, he served as head of the Jewish Agency. He sought to negotiate agreements with Revisionists and leaders of the Arab population in Palestine.
In 1933, Ben-Gurion visited Latvia, where he met with representatives of the Jewish Agency, General Zionists, Socialist Zionists, left-wing Zionist youth organisations, and student associations. He delivered lectures titled “The Struggle of Ideas in Zionism” and “What We Want in Palestine” in Riga, Jelgava, Daugavpils, and Liepāja.
In 1937, he demanded that Britain create conditions for mass Jewish immigration to Palestine. In response, the British government rejected the partition of Palestine, drastically reduced Jewish immigration, and banned land purchases in most of the territory.
At the 22nd Zionist Congress, Ben-Gurion was re-elected Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive and took responsibility for matters of self-defence.
On 14 May 1948, he read the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel and became the head of the new government.