History of the Israel Flag: Zionist Origins, 1948 Adoption & 1949 Law
Israel’s national flag developed from Zionist movement symbolism before statehood and was formally adopted by the new state in October 1948.
Early blue-and-white Zionist flags
Blue-and-white flags featuring the Star of David appeared in the late nineteenth-century Zionist movement. Israeli government material identifies similar designs in use before the First Zionist Congress.
1897 and the Zionist Congress
The blue-and-white flag became closely associated with the Zionist movement during the First Zionist Congress era. Government sources credit David Wolffsohn with helping establish the familiar design based on the tallit and Star of David.
May 1948: statehood
When Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948, Zionist blue-and-white flags were already widely used as national symbols.
October 28, 1948: official adoption
The Provisional State Council formally declared the national flag on October 28, 1948.
1949 Flag and Emblem Law
The Knesset’s Flag and Emblem Law, published on May 24, 1949, gave legal status and protection to the state flag and emblem.
Why the design was retained
The new state chose a flag already strongly associated with the Zionist movement and Jewish identity, preserving continuity between pre-state national symbolism and the state established in 1948.
Modern legal status
Israel’s Basic Law later restated the flag as white with two blue stripes and a blue Star of David in the centre.
