Back to the video list: Israeli History

 

The State of Israel faced violence and war from the start of her existence, in fact even before Israel was founded. The first clash between Israel and her Arab neighbors was the Israeli War of Independence during the 1940ies.

 

Video

 

 

Overview

  • Date: 30 Nov 1947 – 20 Jul 1949
  • Location: Israel (Mandatory Palestine)
  • Start: Civil war between Palestinians & Jews after the UN Partition Plan for Palestine
  • End: Ceasefire between Israel & the Arab states

 

Parties & Persons Involved

  • Israel
  • Egypt
  • Syria
  • Transjordan
  • Lebanon
  • Iraq
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Additionally:
    • Army of the Holy War
    • Arab Liberation Army

 

Background

  • Arab states seek territorial gains & greater political power
  • League of Nations & then United Nations decide to establish a Jewish state in Palestine
  • Jewish immigration into Mandatory Palestine which has a mainly Arab population
  • The Mandatory power Britain is about to withdraw from Palestine
  • The Foundation of the State of Israel is immanent 

 

History

Civil War

  • 29 Nov 1947: UN Two State Solution is accepted by the Jewish Agency & rejected by the Arab League
  • 30 Nov 1947: Civil war between Jews (Haganah, Irgun & Lehi) & Arabs (Army of the Holy War & Arab Liberation Army)
  • Dec 1947 – Mar 1948: Haganah is supplied with weapons from the Eastern Bloc
  • 04 – 08 Apr 1948: Successful campaigns of Haganah & death of the Palestinian commander
  • 09 Apr 1948: Capture / massacre of Deir Yassin by Irgun & Lehi
  • Up to 300,000 Palestinians flee
  • 14 May 1948: End of British mandate & Israeli declaration of independence

 

Arab Offensives

  • 15 May – 10 Jun 1948: Syrian troops advance into Galilee
  • 15 May – 10 Jun 1948: Egyptian forces advance towards the the southern suburbs of Jerusalem & beyond Ashdod
  • 15 – 28 May 1948: Iraqi troops occupy the area around Tulkarm, Nablus & Jenin
  • 17 May 1948: Arab Legion conquers Latrun & encircles 100,000 Israeli in Jerusalem
  • 10 Jun 1948: Finishing of the Burma Road through rough terrain so that Jerusalem can hold out
  • 11 Jun – 06 Jul 1948: 1st ceasefire during which esp. Israel rearms herself

 

The War of the Ten Days

  • 08 – 18 Jul 1948: Israelis forces conquer Nazareth
  • 08 – 18 Jul 1948: Israeli troops conquer the airport of Tel Aviv
  • 08 – 18 Jul 1948: Battles of attrition for Negba & Latrun
  • 18 Jul – 15 Oct 1948: 2nd ceasefire during which all belligerents rearm themselves

 

Israeli Offensives

  • Oct 1948: Israeli troops advance into Galilee
  • Oct 1948 – Jan 1949: Israeli forces advance through Gaza into the Sinai & encircle an Egyptian brigade in the Negev
  • 10 Mar 1949: Symbolic end of operations with hoisting the Ink Flag in Eilat
  • Israeli-Arab Armistices:
    • 24 Feb 1949 – Egypt
    • 23 Mar 1949 – Lebanon
    • 03 Apr 1949 – Jordan
    • 20 Jul 1949 – Syria

 

Consequences & Impact

  • Israel can defend her freedom
  • Humanitarian problems:
    • Palestinian refugee problem (> 700,000 Palestinian leave their homes)
    • Jews in the Arab world face pogroms & are expelled from their homes
  • Destabilisation of the Arab governments:
    • All involved Arab governments fall with the exception of Jordan & Saudi-Arabia
    • A development to more militarisation & intolerance begins within the Arab countries
  • Begin of the Middle East Conflict (Suez Crises, Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War…)