Week 4 – 1947 – 1948 Creation of the State of Israel

UN Partition Plan – 1947 Key points:

Between 1947 - 1948 Jewish acceptance of the plan – some Zionists unhappy with the terms: “The partition of the homeland is illegal. It will never be recognized. It will not bind the Jewish people. Jerusalem was and will for ever be our capital.” Menachem Begin – leader of the Irgun Palestinians & Arab nations reject the plan – between November 1947 – May 1948 over 300,000 Arabs flee the soon-to-be state of Israel Increased violence massacres on both sides April 1948: Irgun attack on Arab village of Deir Yassin, killing the inhabitants Syrian and Iraqi soldiers arrive to support the Arabs attacks on the roads to Jerusalem

State of Israel is declared – 14 May 1948

Reactions to the Declaration of the State of Israel. Jewish Palestinian Surrounding Arab nations International

1948 War May 14,1948: Israel is officially formed May 15, 1948: Israel attacked by six Arab nations Approx. 750,000 Palestinians fled or were forced to leave Over approx. 800,000 Jews in Arab countries also fled or were forced to leave for Israel Israel After War: Jordan controls West Bank and Egypt controls Gaza Strip Israel takes much of Palestine and West Jerusalem East Jerusalem, including many religious sites taken by Jordan, who denied Israelis access

Perspectives Israelis Palestinians Creates state of Israel War of Independence Holocaust and other periods of violence against Jews throughout the past centuries might not have happened if there was a Jewish Homeland They had no input Nabka: “Catastrophe” Land set aside for Palestinians now under control of Arab countries or Israel

Questions… IN SMALL GROUPS (1-4) What were the key factors that led to the Creation of the State of Israel?

Next week’s focus & reading… Aftermath of 1948 War, Suez Crisis & 1967 ‘Six Day War’ McAleavy’s text: page 26 page 27 – 2nd Discussion point pages 29-32 POV timeline through 1970 – highlighting key details