First Ben-Gurion Cabinet | |
|---|---|
 1st Cabinet ofIsrael | |
 | |
| Date formed | 10 March 1949 (1949-03-10) |
| Date dissolved | 30 October 1950 (1950-10-30) |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | Chaim Weizmann |
| Head of government | David Ben-Gurion |
| Member parties | Mapai United Religious Front Progressive Party Sephardim and Oriental Communities Democratic List of Nazareth |
| Status in legislature | Coalition |
| Opposition leader | Meir Ya'ari |
| History | |
| Election | 1949 Israeli legislative election |
| Legislature term | 1st Knesset |
| Predecessor | Provisional cabinet of Israel |
| Successor | 2nd cabinet of Israel |
Thefirst government of Israel was formed byDavid Ben-Gurion on 8 March 1949, a month and a half after the elections for theFirst Knesset. HisMapai party formed a coalition with theUnited Religious Front, theProgressive Party, theSephardim and Oriental Communities and theDemocratic List of Nazareth, and there were 12 ministers.
There were around 434,000 valid votes cast in the 1949 election.
| Party name | Number of votes | Percentage | Number of seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mapai | 155,274 | 35.7% | 46 |
| Mapam | 64,018 | 14.7% | 19 |
| United Religious Front | 52,982 | 12.2% | 16 |
| Herut Movement | 49,782 | 11.5% | 14 |
| General Zionists | 22,661 | 5.2% | 7 |
| Sephardim and Oriental Communities | 15,287 | 3.5% | 4 |
| Israel Communist Party | 15,148 | 3.5% | 4 |
| Democratic List of Nazareth | 7,387 | 1.7% | 2 |
| Fighter's List | 5,363 | 1.2% | 1 |
| WIZO | 5,173 | 1.2% | 1 |
| Yemenite Association | 4,399 | 1% | 1 |
A notable piece of legislation enacted during the term of the first government was an educational law in 1949 which introduced compulsory schooling for all children between the ages of 5 and 14.[1]
One of the promises made by Mapai was to sign the1949 Armistice Agreements, which they duly did. This laid out the foundation for theGreen Line, a idemarcation line set out in the agreements between the Israeli army and those of its neighbours (Egypt,Jordan,Lebanon, andSyria) after the1948 Arab–Israeli War. It served as thede facto borders of the State of Israel from 1949 until theSix-Day War in 1967, and continues to represent Israel's internationally recognized borders with the twoPalestinian territories: theWest Bank and theGaza Strip.[2][3] During this government, they set out the terms forIsraeli conscription.
During the government,austerity policies began, and oversaw a socialist distribution and rationing system. These policies largely came about as Israel had interited the economy ofMandatory Palestine, which had operated under wartime rationing.
Ben-Gurion resigned on 15 October 1950 after the United Religious Front objected to his demands that the Supply and Rationing Ministry be closed and a businessman appointed as Minister for Trade and Industry, as well as issues over education in thenew immigrant camps.[4]
