The Israeli War of Independence, 1948
Quote: "The truth is that if Israel were to put down its arms there would be no more Israel. If the Arabs were to put down their arms there would be no more war.” - Benjamin Netanyahu
Many Jewish people fled to Israel around the time of the Second World War.
In 1945 the Arab League was created to protest the Balfour Declaration.
In 1946 France gives independance to Syria and Lebanon.
The British fall out of favour with the Jews on the account of not fulfilling their promise so the British hand the issue over to the UN.
In 1947 the UN suggested a partition for the area of Palestine.
The Jewish people were happy because they were finally getting a homeland but the Arabs were not happy because they saw the area as theirs.
Throughout 1947 there were radical attacks from the Arabs directed at the Jews.
There were rumours that once the British left the Arabs would attack the Jews.
The day the mandate ends the Jews, following the lead of David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, attacked the countries of the Arab League.
Despite numbers the Jews not only win the battle but they also manage to expand their territory to areas including the Negev Desert.
Many Palestinians became refugees and eventually began launching terrorist attacks from inside Israel.
Summary: This Arab-Israeli War was very successful for the Israelis. They not only prevented the Arabs from getting the slightest chance to "drive them into the sea" they also managed to expand their own territory. This however, would not solve all of the problems for the Israelis. Their neighbouring countries still refused to accept them and now they had many Palestinian refugees living within their borders.
Website Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_War
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/israel_and_the_1948_war.htm
Video:
Many Jewish people fled to Israel around the time of the Second World War.
In 1945 the Arab League was created to protest the Balfour Declaration.
In 1946 France gives independance to Syria and Lebanon.
The British fall out of favour with the Jews on the account of not fulfilling their promise so the British hand the issue over to the UN.
In 1947 the UN suggested a partition for the area of Palestine.
The Jewish people were happy because they were finally getting a homeland but the Arabs were not happy because they saw the area as theirs.
Throughout 1947 there were radical attacks from the Arabs directed at the Jews.
There were rumours that once the British left the Arabs would attack the Jews.
The day the mandate ends the Jews, following the lead of David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, attacked the countries of the Arab League.
Despite numbers the Jews not only win the battle but they also manage to expand their territory to areas including the Negev Desert.
Many Palestinians became refugees and eventually began launching terrorist attacks from inside Israel.
Summary: This Arab-Israeli War was very successful for the Israelis. They not only prevented the Arabs from getting the slightest chance to "drive them into the sea" they also managed to expand their own territory. This however, would not solve all of the problems for the Israelis. Their neighbouring countries still refused to accept them and now they had many Palestinian refugees living within their borders.
Website Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_War
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/israel_and_the_1948_war.htm
Video:
Question: Had Israel not attacked the Arabs first what would Israel look like today?