February 17th 1949 was the day of Weizmann's presidential inauguration. On that day Dr Chaim Weizmann became the first president of the Jewish state.
On this photo Dr Chaim Weizmann is cutting a ribbon with golden scissors during the ceremonies that marked his first visit to Jerusalem as president, with his wife, Vera, to his right and Mayor of Jerusalem Daniel Auster to his left, holding the scissors' box.

The photo mounted together with a letter sent by Weizmann to Moshe Sharett, the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time. The letter refers to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 303, adopted on the 9th of December 1949. The resolution was in support of placing Jerusalem under an international regime, conferring it a special status due to its shared religious importance. Israel refused to accept the resolution. Subsequently Israel's Prime Minister David Ben Gurion responded by proclaiming Jerusalem to be the capital of the State of Israel.

President Weizmann's letter of January 6th 1950 reads as follows:

'My dear Sir,

I do hope that the distortion of the United Nations General Assembly concerning Jerusalem will be amended, because it is impossible that the Assembly will not see its mistake. However, we must be careful not to misstep.

Jerusalem shall be ours if we will respect the other religions, and if we ensure their rights.

With respect and regards,

Dr C. Weizmann
President of Israel.'

Typed letter signed by Dr C. Weizmann; 1 leaf, 4to. Text in Hebrew and English, mounted with a black and white photograph signed and dated by Weizmann in green ink in the upper left corner.