Background
Katznelson was born in 1888 in Babruysk in the Russian Empire, now in Belarus.
Katznelson was born in 1888 in Babruysk in the Russian Empire, now in Belarus.
As such, in 1948 he was amongst the signatories of Israel"s declaration of independence, and was immediately co-opted into the Provisional State Council. He was also involved in the foundation of the radio station Kol Yisrael, which began broadcasting on the day independence was declared. After independence he was appointed as an envoy to Scandinavia and later took a Hebrew surname, Nissan.
A doctor and resident of Jerusalem, Katznelson was a member of the central committees of both Mapai and Hashomer Hatzair, representing the former in the Vaad Leumi and Moetzet HaAm, and also serving as director of the health department of the Zionist Executive.