11 Facts About Peretz Bernstein

Peretz Bernstein was a Zionist activist and Israeli politician and one of the signatories of the Israeli declaration of independence.

Peretz Bernstein moved to the Netherlands before World War I, where he worked in the grain trade.

Peretz Bernstein emigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1936, and became editor of the HaBoker newspaper.

Peretz Bernstein joined the Jewish Agency, and became a board member, serving as director of its economics department between 1946 and 1948.

Peretz Bernstein was one of the people to sign Israel's declaration of independence on 14 May 1948, and was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry in the provisional government.

Peretz Bernstein was elected to the first Knesset in 1949 as a member of the General Zionists, but lost his place in the cabinet.

Peretz Bernstein stood as a candidate in the Knesset's election for president in 1952, but withdrew after the second round of voting, having come a distant second to eventual winner Yitzhak Ben-Zvi.

Peretz Bernstein returned to the Knesset following the elections of 1955 and 1959, but did not regain his cabinet position.

In 1961 the General Zionists merged with the Progressive Party to form the Liberal Party and Peretz Bernstein was elected one of its two presidents.

Peretz Bernstein was re-elected to the Knesset later that year and oversaw the alliance with Menachem Begin's Herut to form Gahal.

Peretz Bernstein lost his seat in the 1965 elections and died in 1971.