Battleground Archives

The Israeli War of Independence was a conflict that led to the establishment of the State of Israel. The war lasted from November 1947 to July 1949 and was fought between the newly declared State of Israel and a coalition of Arab nations and militia. The origins of the conflict can be traced back to the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and Transjordan and the subsequent United Nations (UN) partition plan.

In 1947, the UN proposed the partition of the area into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as an international city. The Jewish community accepted the plan, while the Arab community and surrounding Arab nations rejected it. Following the UN resolution on November 29, 1947, Arab forces attacked the newly formed state, marking the beginning of the war.

The first phase of the conflict, known as the civil war phase, involved skirmishes and guerrilla warfare between Jewish and Arab paramilitary groups. The Haganah, the main Jewish military organization, along with its strike force, the Palmach, engaged in defensive and later offensive operations to secure Jewish settlements and vital supply routes. Arab forces, including the Arab Liberation Army and local militias, attacked Jewish convoys and communities.

Haganah was the main Jewish military organization that operated in the British Mandate for Palestine. It was founded in 1920, and was formally disbanded in 1948, when it became replaced/integrated into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

On May 14, 1948, as the British mandate expired, David Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of the State of Israel. The following day, armies from Egypt, Transjordan (now Jordan), Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq invaded the new state, marking the beginning of the second phase of the war. This phase was characterized by conventional warfare, with battles over key cities and strategic positions.

The Israeli forces, initially outnumbered and outgunned, faced significant challenges. However, they benefitted from better organization, internal unity, and a high level of motivation. The first major confrontation occurred in the battle for Jerusalem, where Jewish forces sought to break the Arab siege and secure access to the city’s Jewish quarter. The Old City of Jerusalem remained under Jordanian control, but the Western part of the city was held by Israel.

A crucial turning point came with the first truce brokered by the UN in June 1948, which allowed both sides to regroup and rearm. During this time, Israel received significant arms shipments, including from Czechoslovakia, enhancing its military capabilities. When fighting resumed, Israeli forces launched several successful offensives, including Operation Danny, Operation Yoav, and Operation Hiram.

By early 1949, the tide had turned decisively in favor of Israel. Armistice agreements were signed between Israel and Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. These agreements established the armistice lines, known as the Green Line, which would serve as the de facto borders of Israel until the Six-Day War in 1967. The conflict resulted in territorial gains for Israel, including parts of the Galilee, Negev, and the coastal plain.

The victory solidified Israel’s existence as an independent state, although it also set the stage for ongoing regional tensions and subsequent Arab-Israeli wars.