World War II's aftermath reshaped the Middle East, with the creation of Israel as a pivotal event. The 1947 UN Partition Plan for Palestine sparked intense conflict between Jews and Arabs, leading to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

The war resulted in Israeli independence and control of 78% of Mandatory Palestine. It also caused the Palestinian exodus, or Nakba, displacing hundreds of thousands. These events set the stage for decades of regional tension and conflict.

UN Partition Plan and Arab-Israeli War

UN Partition Plan and Arab Response

• UN Partition Plan proposed dividing Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states in 1947
• Plan allocated 56% of land to Jewish state despite Jews comprising only 33% of population
• Jewish leadership accepted plan while Arab leaders rejected it
• Arab League formed in 1945 to coordinate Arab opposition to Zionism
• Arab League vowed to prevent implementation of partition plan by force

Outbreak and Course of 1948 War

• Violence erupted immediately after UN vote with Arab attacks on Jewish communities
• Full-scale war began after Israeli declaration of independence on May 14, 1948
• Arab armies from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq invaded Israel
• Israeli forces initially outnumbered but gained strength through arms acquisitions and mobilization
• Key Israeli military victories included Operation Hiram in Galilee and Operation Horev in Negev
• War ended with Israel controlling 78% of Mandatory Palestine territory

Armistice Agreements and Aftermath

• Series of bilateral armistice agreements signed between Israel and Arab states in 1949
• Agreements established ceasefire lines known as the Green Line
• Green Line became de facto border of Israel until 1967 Six-Day War
• No formal peace treaties signed, leaving state of war technically in effect
• Agreements left unresolved issues including status of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees

Israeli Leadership and Forces

David Ben-Gurion and State Formation

• David Ben-Gurion served as first Prime Minister of Israel from 1948 to 1954 and 1955 to 1963
• Led provisional government during War of Independence
• Directed integration of various Jewish militias into Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
• Oversaw absorption of hundreds of thousands of Jewish immigrants
• Implemented policy of mamlachtiyut (statism) to centralize state authority

Israeli Military Organizations

• Haganah functioned as main Zionist paramilitary organization in pre-state period
• Haganah transformed into core of Israel Defense Forces after independence
• Irgun operated as more militant Zionist group, carried out attacks against British and Arabs
• Lehi (Stern Gang) engaged in assassinations and sabotage against British targets
• Ben-Gurion ordered dissolution of independent militias in June 1948

Law of Return and Immigration Policy

• Law of Return passed in 1950 granted automatic citizenship to any Jew immigrating to Israel
• Defined "Who is a Jew" for immigration purposes
• Facilitated large-scale Jewish immigration from Europe, Middle East, and North Africa
• Contributed to rapid population growth and demographic shifts in early years of statehood
• Controversial due to exclusion of Palestinians who fled or were expelled during 1948 war

Palestinian Exodus

Causes and Scale of Palestinian Displacement

• Nakba (Arabic for "catastrophe") refers to mass exodus of Palestinians during 1948 war
• Estimated 700,000 to 800,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes
• Causes included direct expulsions, fear of violence, and psychological warfare tactics
• Some Palestinians left voluntarily expecting to return after Arab victory
• Israeli forces systematically destroyed hundreds of Palestinian villages to prevent return

Refugee Crisis and Long-Term Impact

• Palestinian refugees settled in camps in neighboring Arab countries (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan)
• Gaza Strip and West Bank absorbed large numbers of displaced Palestinians
• United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) established to provide aid to refugees
• Refugee issue became central to Arab-Israeli conflict and Palestinian national identity
• Israel refused to allow return of refugees, citing security concerns and demographic considerations
• Dispossession and exile shaped Palestinian political consciousness and resistance movements