Palestine Jews Proclaim Central Authority; Adopt “Declaration of Independence”

The concluding session of the Zionist Actions committee voted unanimously to establish immediately a central Jewish authority which will begin functioning officially on May 15. The decision was taken at dawn today after an all-night session.

A "Declaration of Jewish Independence" read by Zalman Rubashov at the final session stated in part: "After 27 years of foreign and atrocious rule over Palestine which the Mandatory Power received as a trust from the world to establish a Jewish National Home, and deceived that trust–the Jewish nation will establish its state and independence in the homeland. The state to be established will be ruled through justice, freedom and equality for all inhabitants, regardless of race or creed."

Calling upon the Palestine Arabs and the neighboring Arab states to assure peace and cooperation, the declaration continued: "Together, we will build the state as citizens with equal right3, in mutual respect for our freedom, which is a sister to yours." It concluded: "Our lives are sacred for the defense of the homeland. The God of Israel will be our assistance!"

The Actions Committee will seek to obtain international recognition of the central Jewish authority from individual governments. It is understood that the new authority will also endeavor to secure an international loan.

The Actions Committee ratified, by a vote of 44 to 32, the Haganah-Irgun military agreement and decided to float as internal loan of $20,000,000 for defense purposes.

Isaac Gruenbaum announced his resignation from the executive of the Jewish Agency. A motion by Rabbi Judah Fishman urging the Actions Committee to reject the resignation was halted by Gruenbaum, who thanked Rabbi Fishman for his interest.