Assembly of Representatives election, 1944

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Elections to the Assembly of Representatives were held in Mandatory Palestine on 2 August 1944.[1] Just over 200,000 Jewish residents voted, more than 70% of all those eligible to vote. This compared with just over 50,000 who voted at the previous elections in 1931. The difference reflected the high level of Jewish immigration to Palestine in the 1930s and 1940s.

Campaign

A total of 24 parties contested the elections, nominating 1,694 candidates.[1] However, the Revisionist-Zionist Hatzohar party, Sephardic Jews, the General Zionist Group “B” and the Jewish Farmers Association boycotted the elections.[2]

Results

Party Votes % Seats
Mapai73,367 64
Left Bloc (Hashomer Hatzair–Poale Zion Left)24,773 21
New Aliyah Party21,403 19
Hapoel HaMizrachi19,346 17
Ahdut HaAvoda18,168 16
General Zionists A Group 7
Mizrachi 7
Women's International Zionist Organization 4
Palestine Communist Party 3
Maccabi 3
Other minor parties 10
Total200,881100171
Source: JTA, Zionism and Israel, American Jewish Yearbook

Around 80% of the elected Assembly members supported the Biltmore Declaration, which demanded the creation of a "Jewish Commonwealth" after World War II.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 American Jewish Yearbook 1945-46 p460
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Final Results of Palestine Elections Announced; Laborite Groups Form Majority Jewish Telegraph Agency, 10 August 1944