Goals: To understand the arguments for creating a State of Israel To be able to explain the events surrounding the creation of the State of Israel

 Nazi Germany focused their violent attitudes towards Jews  Over 5 million Jews died as a result of the Holocaust  European and American populations felt partially responsible for the Holocaust  At the same time, Jewish nationalists (Zionists) argued for refuge in Palestine  Creating a Jewish homeland would make amends

 European immigration continued to increase the Jewish population in Palestine  The UN supported the creation of a Jewish State  David Ben-Gurion announced the Jewish State of Israel on May 14, 1948  The next day, Arab armies made their own declaration…of war

 Jewish terrorist groups, farmers, and Holocaust survivors fought for Israel  Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and Lebanon were united against the Jewish state  Heavy fighting plagued Jerusalem  UN organized a cease-fire, but Jewish terrorists assassinated the UN mediator  Fighting resumed

 Israeli army was given weaponry from Czechoslovakia  Israel pushed Arab forces back into a corner  The war officially ended on July 27, 1949  Israel’s borders increased to include 78% of land formerly known as Palestine  The West Bank and the Gaza Strip were annexed by Jordan and Egypt respectively

 70% of Palestine’s Arab population fled their homes and farms because of the 1948 war  They escaped to the West Bank or Gaza Strip  When these families returned home, they found Jewish families living in their homes  Most families fled without their land deeds or any proof of ownership  For some, the only evidence they had was a simple skeleton key

 Thousands of displaced families were exposed to the elements  The United Nations established “temporary” refugee camps  The months turned into years, and the “temporary” camps became home  Over 1 million people continue to live as refugees in impoverished Arab ghettos

 Many Palestinian Arabs refused to live in filthy refugee camps  The fida’yin was born and began to make Palestine undesirable for Jewish immigrants  Fida’yin attacks killed hundreds of Israeli soldiers, but only emboldened the Jewish newcomers  Counterattacks by Jewish terrorist groups killed Arab fighters and civilians