With multiple diversity in geographic background and ideological outlooks, the Zionist movement practiced democracy to sustain its fledgling movement.
At times its leaders and rank and file could not agree on methods, means, attitudes toward the Arabs, level of Jewish practice, or pace in achieving nationalist objectives. From the establishment of the World Zionist Organization in 1897 to the present, Zionist and Israeli politicians regularly quit a political identity only to re-emerge in practice as some future time. Decisions in national organizations like the Jewish National Fund, Jewish Agency, Histadrut, and political parties were sometimes made in autocratic settings, yet almost always included consultation, debate, and dissent. From its earliest years until the present, its 120 member parliament has reflected a breadth of political opinion, always with a high percentage of the body politic participating in elections. And to its credit, Israel has systematically scrutinized the behavior of its politicians and the actions of its leaders in times of conflict and controversy.
Documents
Israel’s Declaration of Independence
Proposed Constitution for the State of Israel to be Voted on After the January (1949) Elections
Israel’s Basic Laws
The Israeli Knesset Debates, 1948-1981
Volume 1 – People’s Council and Provisional Council of State, 1948-1949
Volume 2 – The Constituent Assembly-First Knesset, 1949-1951
Volume 3 – Second Knesset, 1951-1955; Third Knesset, 1955-1959
Volume 4 – Fourth Knesset, 1959-1961; Fifth Knesset, 1961-1965; Sixth Knesset, 1965-1969
Volume 5 – Seventh Knesset, 1969-1973; Eighth Knesset, 1974-1977
Volume 6 – Ninth Knesset, 1977-1981