Ben-Gurion Against the Knesset

By Goldberg, Giora and Chaya Naor (Trans.)
Taylor & Francis, 2003, Hardcover, 344 pp., ISBN: 0714655562, $74.95

Goldberg (political studies, Bar-Ilan U.) begins the previously neglected study of the roots of Israeli parliamentarism though the analysis of Ben-Gurion's role as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

The power struggle between Ben-Gurion and the Knesset was not primarily concerned with who should hold the reins of power, but with the ideals that should lie behind government. Ben-Gurion did not think that the Knesset had the moral backbone required at a historic turning-point in Israeli history, when the character of the nation was being developed; although he conceded that it was capable of dealing with the more mundane administrative tasks.

He therefore denied the Knesset the right to take part in the policy-making process, caused a decline in the support of the elite and the general public, encouraged partisanship, and endeavored to reduce competitiveness. Ben-Gurion was so dismissive of the Knesset and its members, that he would not even attend parties at which Knesset members were being given awards.