David Ben Gurion

David Ben Gurion was the first and longest serving Prime Minister of Israel. He is often referred to as the "Founding Father of Israel" for his role in molding and setting the course for Zionist history. He led Israel during it's War of Independence and proclaimed the state's independence during a speech in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948.

After establishing the independent state of Israel, Gurion built most of its institutions and set about attracting Jews from all over the world to the newly founded Jewish state. During his time in office, the Jewish population in Israel tripled from ¹/₂ million to 1¹/₂ million.

1. "Everybody sees a difficulty in the question of relations between Arabs and Jews. But not everybody sees that there is no solution to this question. No solution! There is a gulf, and nothing can bridge it… We, as a nation, want this country to be ours; the Arabs, as a nation, want this country to be theirs."
2. "Terrorism benefits the Arabs, it may lay waste the Yishuv and shake Zionism. But to follow in the Arabs' footsteps and ape their deeds is to be blind to the gulf between us. Our aims and theirs run counter: methods calculated to further theirs, are ruinous to us."
3. Let me first tell you one thing: It doesn't matter what the world says about Israel; it doesn't matter what they say about us anywhere else. The only thing that matters is that we can exist here on the land of our forefathers. And unless we show the Arabs that there is a high price to pay for murdering Jews, we won't survive."

• 1886: October 16 Born

• 1904: Starts at the Warsaw University, where he joined the organization Poale Zion (Zionist Workers).

• 1906: Emigrates to Palestine, after some time he takes the Hebrew name Ben-Gurion.

• 1914: With the outbreak of World War 1,he returns to Palestine.

• 1915: Is deported from the Ottoman Empire as a troublemaker, end ends up in New York, Here he marries Russian-born Pauline Munweis.

• 1921: Becomes the first secretary general of Histadrut

• 1930: Is central in forming the Israeli Workers Party, Mapai

• 1933: Leader of Mapai, Haim Arlosoroff, is assassinated, Ben-Gurion becomes leader.

• 1935: Is elected chairman of the Zionist Executive, the highest body of international Zionism

• 1939: After Great Britain introduces restrictions on Jewish immigration to Palestine, he calls for a Jewish rebellion, involving both peaceful and military actions

• 1942: May 12, At a Zionist conference in New York, gets support for establishing a Jewish state after the end of World War 2.

• 1945: Through Histadrut, he buys arms from Europe

• 1948: May 14: Gives the declaration of independence for Israel in Tel Aviv. He becomes head of the provisional government

• 1949: Is elected prime minister

• 1953: Steps down from office and returns to his kibbutz in Negev, Sede Boqer. He is succeeded by Moshe Sharett

• 1963: Steps down from office for "personal reasons." He is succeeded by Levi Eshkol, against whom he campaigns heavily

• 1965: He leaves the Mapai party in protest against its merger with Ahdut HaAvodah-Poale Zion, and formed the new party, Rafi

• 1970: Publishes Israel: A Personal History

• 1973: December 1: Dies of natural causes in Tel Aviv

• 1974: The Jews in Their Land is published posthumously