Three of the thirteen members were missing, with Yehuda Leib Maimon and Yitzhak Gruenbaum being stuck in Jerusalem, whilst Yitzhak-Meir Levin was in the United States.

The latter option was put to a vote, with six of the ten members present supporting it: On 14 May, the day Israel declared independence, Minhelet HaAm became the Provisional government, whilst Moetzet HaAm became the Provisional State Council.

The Provisional government was promptly recognised by the United States as the de facto authority of Israel,[2][3] followed by Iran (which had voted against the UN partition plan), Guatemala, Iceland, Nicaragua, Romania, and Uruguay.

The Soviet Union granted official recognition to Israel on 17 May 1948,[4] followed by Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Ireland, and South Africa.

[citation needed] The United States extended de jure recognition after the first Israeli election,[5] on 31 January 1949.