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Chaim Weizmann. First President of Israel, Sends Acceptance Message to Government

May 18, 1948
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Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who last night was elected president of the Council of Government of Israel at a special session in Tel Aviv, ##y dispatched the following message to the Provisional Jewish Government accepting first Presidency of Israel:

“I am proud of the great honor bestowed upon me by the Provisional Council of Government of the state of Israel in electing me as its first president. It is in a ##ble spirit that I accept this election and I am deeply grateful to the Council for confidence which it has reposed in me.

“I dedicate myself to the service of the land and people in whose cause I have been privileged to labor these many years. I send to the Provisional Government people of Israel this expression of my deepest and most heartfelt affection inning the blessing of God upon them. I pray that the struggle forced upon us will ?edily end and will be succeeded by an era of peace, development, and prosperity the people of Israel and those who are waiting to join us in the construction advancement of the new state.

“I regret that at this moment I am not with our people but my thoughts and a layers are especially with those who are bearing the brunt and sacrifice of Israel’s defense. The future of Israel will not be unworthy of those who have fallen. Zion all be redeemed in justice.”

(A.J.T.A. cable from Tel Aviv said today that Dr. Weizmann was elected President of the Provisional Government of Israel after he was nominated by Minister of practice Felix Rosenblueth and seconded by Premier David Ben Gurion. The Revisionist delegates voted against while the United Workers Party and Communist delegates abstained in the ballotting.)

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