On Friday, May 5, 1949, Interior Minister Moshe Shapira granted Lod status as a city. The “Decree on the Appointment of the Lod Municipal Committee,” published in the 16th volume of regulations on May 25, 1949, (27 Iyar 5709) put Lod on the map of Jewish cities in the State of Israel.

On May 27, 1949, the first meeting of the City Council was held. The meeting was attended by the Military Governor, Ziga Yaavetz, Pesach Lev, Yaakov Kobo, Dr. Glattner, Mr. A. Hayon, Elias Ibrahim Shubita, Yeshayahu Koren, Yosef Slifer, and Mrs. Haviva Pinkus.  The Military Governor spoke at the meeting about the many changes that had taken place in the city since its liberation and until the day it was declared a city. He noted with emotion: “Not everyone saw the city in its early days, without water and lacking everything. How pleasant it is to see the city now, taking on a human form - an exciting and heartwarming sight.” Yosef Slifer noted that since December 1948, 2,500 families comprising some 8,500 residents had been absorbed into the city. The city's residents were employed in 46 institutions, but there was still a shortage of skilled workers in the fields of construction and agriculture.

Pesach Lev, who had also immigrated from Poland, was appointed Chairman of the Municipal Committee. Despite being a recent immigrant, Lev was fluent in Hebrew, as he had studied it in Poland.

Avraham Hayon was appointed as Lev's Deputy. This committee functioned until the municipal council elections, which were held in November 1950. Pesach Lev was elected Mayor of Lod. He served in this position for the entire first decade.

From: Vakar, Ora, 1977, Lod - Historical Geography, published by Goma and the Lod Municipality - Cehrikover.