David Ben-Gurion – Rare and Important Letter to IDF Chief of Staff Mordechai Makleff, December 1952

Rare and Important Letter – David Ben-Gurion to IDF Chief of Staff Mordechai Makleff, December 1952

An extraordinary historical document, signed by David Ben-Gurion, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, addressed to Chief of Staff Mordechai Makleff on December 8, 1952 — at a critical moment when the Israel Defense Forces were reorganizing after the War of Independence.
This two-page letter, typed on official Prime Minister’s Office stationery bearing the State emblem, is a foundational document revealing Ben-Gurion’s vision for the army, the state, and the moral backbone of the new nation.

🕯️ Historical Context – Israel and the IDF after the War of Independence

Only four years after the establishment of the State, Israel was still recovering from the trauma of the 1948 war: tens of thousands of casualties, a deep economic crisis, mass immigration, and strict austerity.
The young IDF was underfunded, disorganized, and torn between different paramilitary traditions — Haganah, Palmach, and Irgun.
Ben-Gurion saw an urgent need to transform this improvised force into a disciplined national army — efficient, educational, and fully subordinate to civilian authority.

⚔️ Main Themes of the Letter – Ben-Gurion’s Demands to the Chief of Staff

In the letter, Ben-Gurion outlines a sweeping reform program for the IDF. Already in the opening lines he declares:

“The Israel Defense Forces were established by the State to serve the people of Israel – its defense, salvation, restoration, and historic mission. The army is not an independent institution.”

He emphasizes that the military must never become a state within a state but remain a disciplined instrument of the nation.
Ben-Gurion calls for drastic streamlining:

“All thousands within the army who are not essential must be released, and every duplication avoided.”

Here he expresses his concern for economic efficiency at a time when the young state struggled to sustain massive immigration and defense costs.

He also insists on professionalism and merit-based advancement:

“The permanent force of the army must advance through training and ability, and all inefficient and wasteful elements must be discharged. Entry of outside civilian officers should be prevented.”

Ben-Gurion also connects the military to the broader social mission of education and youth training:

“Every youth aged 14–18 must be given compulsory service and basic training, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.”

The letter concludes with his demand for a comprehensive defense budget and long-term planning — showing his characteristic blend of pragmatism and visionary state-building.

👨‍✈️ Chief of Staff Mordechai Makleff – Ben-Gurion’s Short-Term Appointee

Major General Mordechai (Motta) Makleff, a highly respected officer from the War of Independence, was personally recruited by Ben-Gurion to serve as the third IDF Chief of Staff for a short transition period (1952–1953).
Known for his discipline and integrity, Makleff implemented parts of Ben-Gurion’s directives, including the establishment of the IDF’s Personnel Directorate, modernization of logistics, and reorganization of the General Staff.

🕊️ Ben-Gurion the Statesman – Reform through Vision

This document reflects Ben-Gurion’s broader philosophy: an efficient, moral, educational, and truly national army, firmly under civilian control.
As he often said elsewhere: “There is no security without education, and no education without security.”
The letter lays the ideological and structural groundwork for what would later be called “the people’s army.”

🔄 Relevance Today – Rebuilding the IDF after Years of War

Just as in 1952, the IDF today faces a similar challenge — after years of continuous warfare — to reorganize, rebuild trust, strengthen discipline, and reaffirm its unity with the society it defends.
Ben-Gurion’s call to “release all the inefficient and wasteful elements” still resonates: the need for renewal, accountability, and moral clarity remains timeless.

📜 Document Description

• Date: December 8, 1952

• Author: David Ben-Gurion, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense

• Recipient: Major General Mordechai Makleff, IDF Chief of Staff

• Content: Strategic directives for restructuring the IDF – manpower, budget, logistics, education, and national service

• Signature: Original ink signature by Ben-Gurion

• Format: Two full pages on Prime Minister’s Office letterhead with the State emblem

• Rarity: Exceptionally rare official communication defining the post-war reorganization of the IDF

🖋️ Full English Translation of the Letter (December 8, 1952)

The Prime Minister’s Office
Jerusalem, 25 Kislev 5713
December 8, 1952

To: The Chief of the General Staff,
Major General Mordechai Makleff
Ministry of Defense

A.
The Israel Defense Forces were established by the State to serve the people of Israel — its defense, salvation, reconstruction, and historic mission. The army is not an independent institution. It is an instrument of the State, but must remain a unique, disciplined, loyal, and trustworthy body.

B.
The regular army must at all times maintain full planning and organization ensuring proper manpower — including the conscript army, the permanent army, and the working reserve. Through continuous supervision of the military and logistical system, a unified level of discipline and responsibility must be upheld. There should be no separation between soldiers and civilians, and all unnecessary duplication between them must be eliminated.

C.
No civilian departments should be opened within the army, and all dual functions (between soldiers and civilians) that are not militarily essential must be abolished. Reliance must be placed only on military example, and where possible, work should be carried out by private workshops or civilian contractors.

D.
The permanent personnel of the standing army must advance through training and competence; all inefficient and wasteful personnel must be discharged. Entry of civilian officers from outside the army should be prevented unless they have completed basic military training.

E.
All those found liable for family support in substantial sums, after completing basic training, must be assigned as workers within the army to avoid redundant civilian employment.

F.
All activities of training, education, and supply must be integrated, with full coordination among the branches of the General Staff, and complete responsibility concentrated in the hands of the Head of the Ordnance Department.

G.
Preparations must be made for compulsory service for all youth aged 14–18. Every youth reaching this age shall receive basic training in non-combat but nationally useful functions. This program shall be carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.

H.
The preparation of the budget for the year 1953/54 must be advanced promptly, along with a detailed operational or organizational plan of the army for the coming years.

Signed,
D. Ben-Gurion
(signature in brown ink)

✡️ Summary

This rare letter captures the moment when David Ben-Gurion reshaped Israel’s defense doctrine — transforming a wartime force into a disciplined, civic, and educational national army.
It is not merely a historical document but a declaration of purpose — a manifesto of modern Israel’s military and moral foundations.