In 1947, a monumental decision by the United Nations set the stage for a dramatic chapter in world history. The UN voted to partition British-ruled Palestine into two separate states, one for Jews and one for Arabs. This decision ignited a series of events that would lead to the establishment of the State of Israel, a pivotal moment in the Jewish people’s long history of exile and persecution.
The UN Partition and Its Aftermath
On November 29, 1947, the United Nations passed a resolution to partition Palestine. This decision was met with jubilation by Jews, who saw it as a chance to establish a nation after 2,000 years of exile and just three years after the Holocaust. However, the Arab population was enraged, vowing to destroy the nascent Jewish state before it could be born. The tension between these two groups set the stage for a conflict that would shape the Middle East for decades.
The War of Independence Begins
The conflict quickly escalated into a full-blown war. Arab armies, equipped with tanks, guns, and planes supplied by Britain and France, prepared to attack the lightly armed Jewish forces. Azam Pasha, Secretary-General of the Arab League, declared it a “war of annihilation,” and the threat was real. The war unfolded in four distinct phases, beginning immediately after the UN partition resolution.
Siege and Struggle
The first phase saw Palestinian Arabs and fighters from neighboring regions attacking Jewish settlements. Jerusalem, home to 100,000 Jews, was besieged, cut off from food and water. Despite desperate attempts to break the siege, the situation was dire. Zionist leader David Ben-Gurion, wary of losing international support, hesitated to launch a counteroffensive. However, the relentless Arab attacks forced the Jews to retaliate, leading to significant victories in cities like Haifa, Safed, Jaffa, and Tiberias.
The Declaration of Independence
As the violence intensified, the Jewish community faced a critical decision. Despite the dire circumstances, on May 14, 1948, Ben-Gurion declared the independence of the State of Israel in the Tel Aviv Art Museum. This bold move was immediately recognized by the United States, marking the beginning of a new era for the Jewish people.
The Arab Invasion
The declaration of independence triggered the second phase of the war. Arab nations invaded, capturing large parts of the Galilee and the Negev. Egyptian forces advanced perilously close to Tel Aviv, while the ancient Jewish quarter of Jerusalem fell to Arab forces. Despite these setbacks, the Israelis demonstrated remarkable resilience, and a UN-proposed truce allowed them to regroup and rearm.
Turning the Tide
The third phase of the war saw Israel on the offensive. Armed with new weapons and bolstered by immigrants, many of whom were Holocaust survivors, Israeli forces recaptured key territories. The conflict resulted in a massive displacement of populations, with nearly 700,000 Palestinians becoming refugees, an event they refer to as the Nakba, or “disaster.”
The Final Phase and Aftermath
The fourth and final phase of the war began in October 1948. By then, the balance of power had shifted in favor of Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) pushed the invaders beyond the original partition lines, culminating in the capture of the Red Sea village of Umm Rashrash, later renamed Eilat. The war ended in 1949 with armistice agreements, brokered by American diplomat Ralph Bunche, who became the first African American Nobel laureate.
A New Era
The war resulted in significant casualties, with 6,000 Israelis, or 1% of the population, losing their lives. Jerusalem was divided, with the old city remaining under Jordanian control. The Palestinian refugee crisis became a persistent source of instability and conflict in the Middle East. Despite these challenges, the most significant outcome was the rebirth of a strong and sovereign Jewish state, marking a new chapter in Jewish history.
