Evening star., 1949-02-17
Dr.. Weizmann Sworn
As First President
OF State Of Israel
BY the AsseeIo&sd Press

JERUSALEM. Feb. 17.-Dr.
Chain Weitzmann, 74-year-old
Jewish elder statesman, was in
augurated today as the first presi-
dent of the new state of Israel.
His right hand raised, the presi-
dent of the first Jewish state in
1000 years. solemnly intoned:
II, Chain Ben Ozer Weitzmann,
as president of the state. swear
allegiance to the state of Israel
and its laws"
Thousands of spectators cheered.
shouting Long live the presi-
dent" as DR.. Weizmann drove
through the streets of the Holy
City to the ceremonial session of
the Assembly. He had been pro-
visional president since May, when
the British surrendered their
League of Nations mandate and
Israel proclaimed herself an in
OcPcIlucuG lldIlOL.
Cuts Ribbon on Arch.
With a silver scissors the Pres
ident cut a blue and white ribbon
across an arch of welcome at the
entrance to the city. Mayor Dan
lei Auster gave him a golden key
to the city. School children hand
ed bouquets to Mrs. Weizmann.
In the long procession Of Gals
were members of a parliamentary
delegation, inclding an Arab men,
Der from Nazareth, who wore
flowing white keff1yeh headdress.
The delegation had driven to D1.
Weizmann's home at Rehovot to
inform him Of his election by
Parliament and to escrt him back
to Jerusalem. The escort included
police motorcyclists. an armored
car with gun turret and a squad
of combat jeeps with steel-hel-
meted soldiers manning machine
guns.
The President and his party
went to the Jewish Agency build
ing, where last night delegates Of
the constituent assembly elected
him by a vote of 83 to Is over the
right wing Herut Party candidate,
Prof. Joseph Klausner. The presi-
dental flag futtered above the
building.
AS he entered for the ceremony,
the shofar-the ceremonial rams
horn-was sounded. The Presi-
dent was sworn in by the Speaker
of the House, 63-year-old Joseph
Sprinzak.
After the ceremony the Presi-
dent was named by the municipal
administration as the first free
citizen of Jerusalem.
The President then drove back
toward Rehovot through befagged
streets crowded with cheering
citizens.
DR.. Weizmann is expected to des-
ignate David Ben-Gurion, Prime
Minister of the provisional gov
ernment, to form a new govern
ment. Mr.. Ben-Gurion is the
leader of the Mapai Labor Party,
which holds A seats, the largest
bloc, in the Assembly. =
DR.. Weizmann was elected over
only one other candidate, Prof.
Yosef Klausner. 73. a retired pro-
fessor of Hebrew literature. DR..
Klausner was the Candidate of
Herut (Freedom) Party, headed
by Menachem Begin. former
leader of the extremist Irgun
Zvai Leumi.
Fifteen delegates returned emp
ty envelopes in the secret BALLOT
ing, indicating opposition to both
candidates. Six were absent and
one vote was declared invalid.
An uproar arose when the Herut
Party nominated DR.. Klausner,
The Herut ST 1kesman who put
DR.. Klausner's name before the
Assembly ended his speech with
I'VE won't argue with collabo-
rators."
This was followed Immediately
by cries of Shame! Shame!"
from members of the Mapam, a
left-wing labor group. They
hurled insults at the Herut group,
sitting directly behind them in
the Assembly. This continued
for several minutes before the
speaker would restore order.
Election Expected.
, DR.. Weizmann's election had
been expected, partly as a tribute
to the major role he has played
in the establishment of Israel.
He has devoted most of his life to
the Zionist cause.
He is a past president of the
World Zionist Organization. He
was born November q, 1874, in
Motyli, near Pinsk, then in Czarist
Russia and now a part of Eastern
Poland.
He went to England in 1904 as
a lecturer in biological chemistry.
His services as a chemist to Britain
during World War I are said to
have been the basis for the Bal
four Declaration of 1917. In that
famous statement the British
pledged to provide national home
for the Jews in Palestine.
DR.. Weizmann's autobiography,
Trial and Error" which tells of