May 26, 1948
The Israel Defense Forces Are Established
Historical context
On May 26, 1948, David Ben-Gurion signed the ordinance that established the Israel Defense Forces and barred any other armed force.
Archive record
Read the event, then follow its documented sources and archive threads.
- Date
- May 26, 1948
- Verified sources
- 2
- Archive threads
- 6
On this day, the provisional government issued the ordinance establishing the Israel Defense Forces. The text, signed by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, creates an army of land forces, a navy, and an air force, and forbids any armed force outside it. The Israel Defense Forces date the founding to this order.
The ordinance was meant to bring the Haganah, the Irgun, and Lehi under one command. The official gazette published it on May 31.
Research trail
Sources and further reading
- Israel’s War of Independence · Israel Defense Forces · Israel Defense Forces View source
- Defense Army of Israel Ordinance No. 4 · Provisional Government · The Knesset View source
Share this history
Support the work
If this history matters to you, you can support Jewish Original.