Before 1948, there was conflict between the Arabs and Jews. There were small attacks and counter attacks. There was terrorists and soldiers were killed. Political repositioning was constantly taking place. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration was created with the help of Chaim Weizmann.
From the 1920s through the 1940s, the Arabs rioted, attacked Jewish settlements, and randomly murdered scores of Palestinian Jews.(1)
On Friday, May 14, 1948, General Sir Alan Cunningham, the last British High Commissioner for Palestine, left the country. The British mandate ended at midnight. The same afternoon, just before the Sabbath, the Jewish National Council, or General Zionist Council, at Tel Aviv proclaimed the independence of the State of Israel, effective at midnight, and appointed David Ben Gurion Prime Minister of the Provisional Government. 1947-1949. (2)
The following day, May 15, 1948, Israel was attacked by five surrounding Arab nations in an effort to destroy the nation of Israel that was less than one day old. Those five were Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt.
Israel was outnumbered in military hardware and soldiers. Against great odds, Israel was able to not only defend herself, but when the war was over, the size of her borders were bigger, because Israel had captured some of the land the attacks had originated from.
The war ended in the spring of 1949. There were four United Nations' arranged cease-fire agreements between Israel and Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. The Arab league refused to make peace.(1)
More than 4000 Israeli soldiers died trying to protect their land. Israel had gained over 2000 square miles of land and enlarged her borders.
The 1948 Jewish State was only one sixth of one percent of what was known as the Arab world. Still the Arab states rejected the plan.(3)
Other articles of interest may include:
Read about The Messiah.
1). Israel my Glory Jan/Feb 2003 p.10.
2). Elusive Victory by Trevor N. Dupuy
3). Empower America.
