1948 - War of Independence

1948 War of Independence

Introduction

The 1948 War of Independence was the first major conflict of the ongoing series of Arab-Israeli wars. The war was initiated by the Arab states following the termination of the British Mandate of Palestine and the Israeli Declaration of Independence on May 14 1948. The next day on May 15, five Arab states: Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq simultaneously invaded Israel with the goal of destroying the Jewish state. This war was the result of years of Arab rejection and violence stemming from the rise of modern Zionism and British policies in the Middle East. The 1948 War resulted in a decisive Israeli victory. For the Arab states, the war was a complete tactical and strategic failure that resulted in continued anti-Semitism and rejectionism as well as the creation of both the Arab and Jewish refugee situation that has perpetuated the conflict and led to further Arab-Israeli wars.