Why did Israel win the war of 1948

Why did Israel win the war of 1948 -49? • To examine the different causes of the Jewish victory in 48/49. • To reach a view on how the Jews were able to defeat the Arab forces and secure the state of Israel Created by Mr. C Wright, Dulwich College Shanghai

What’s in a name? • The War of Independence? • Al Nakba - ‘the catastrophe’? • The 1948 Arab-Israeli War?

The situation • David Ben Gurion, leader of the Zionist has declared the ‘State of Israel’ on 14 th May 1948 • There had been open conflict between the Jewish forces and the Palestinian Arabs for some time before this point as both attempted to ‘grab’ as much land as possible. • The Jews had been successful in breaking a siege of Jerusalem. • However the formal declaration of the state of Israel was the cue for the intervention of its Arab neighbours.

Enter the Arab states. . • Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq all launched an attack almost immediately after the declaration of the state of Israelagain! Why Yes me by Ben. Gurion. might the USSR be getting • At first they made significant gains. involved? • There was a UN truce for 28 days in June 1948 • This gave valuable breathing time for the Israeli’s, who were able to rearm with massive new shipments from Czechoslovakia: authorised by none other than…

The tide turns… • A newly equipped Israeli force, boosted by new soldiers (10000+ immigrants were arriving a month by this stage), was able to go on the offensive. • There was a 2 nd UN truce from 18 th July 15 th October • The Israeli’s broke the truce, went back on the offensive and pushed the Arab armies back. • The Arab countries had no choice but to agree ceasefires

Al Nakba! • The Palestinians had started the war confident that the might of the combined Arab world would crush the resistance of the Jewish settlers • Instead over 700, 000 Palestinians had fled/been forced out of Israel and became refugees mainly in the Gaza Strip and West Bank • Israel had created a state that was 50% larger than the UN plan had given it!

Why did Israel win? • Using the sources your group has been given try and identify at least 10 different reasons. • Write each reason on a piece of card and see if your group can organise them by a) Jewish strengths/Arab weaknesses b) Order of significance to Israel’s victory

So why did they win?

Impact of the 1948/49 war • Initial thoughts: what were the immediate impacts of the war?

Impacts • Israel has been confirmed, and is (temporarily) secure. • 750, 000 Palestinian refugees • Superpower involvement confirmed • Arab humiliation - leading to overthrow of Egyptian government and long term resentment/anger • Israel has gained a far larger country than it had originally been given by the partition plans • Jordan takes control of the West Bank & East Jerusalem, Egypt takes the Gaza strip • Peace or simply the foundations for future conflict? • Israel’s Arab neighbours refuse to accept Israel’s right to exist