Israel’s independence and the beginning of the first Middle East War

On 14 May 1948 the creation of the state of Israel is proclaimed. Shortly before the proclamation, all British troops left the country. The neighbouring countries of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria reject the UN plan for partitioning Palestine (the Two-State Solution) and promptly declare war against Israel. The first Middle East War („War of Israeli Independence“) lasts until January of 1949. Israel will not only succeed in defending its national territory but it will also capture adjoining territory. A state of Palestine, in which the UN intended that the Palestinian Arab population find a homeland, will not be founded even after the end of the war. In the course of the conflict many Palestinians will be driven out and have to find asylum in the refugee camps of neighbouring Arab countries.

David Ben Gurion, first Israeli Prime Minister, announcing the foundation of the state of Israel in Tel Aviv (in the background a portrait of Theodor Herzl, founder of modern Zionism) Source: This image is from the article Jew from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and is under GNU-license for free documentation