Arab-Israeli Conflict 1948-1956

• Jewish Agency WWII

  • Set up after WWI and still exists, funding projects worldwide
  • Made committee to aid European Jews
  • Palestinian entry permits
  • Food
  • Maintained contact
  • Helped 40,000 Palestinian Jews (8%) into Brit military to aid against Nazis
  • Helped Buchenwald concentration camp survivors arrive ‘45 (immigration illegal arrested by Brit)
• Jewish Agency Post-WWII

  • After WWII continued to aid illegal immigration
  • ‘45-8
  • Sent 66 refugee ships to Palestine
  • Brit intercept most
  • Illegal immigrants in detention camps in Palestine and Cyprus
  • Only after Israel established could enter
  • Frustrated with Brit anti-Zionism
  • Made Hagannah and Irgun form United Resistance Movement against Brit
• Jewish Agency, Israel

  • UN decided to partition Palestine on 29 November ‘47
  • Agency collaborated with Jewish National Council
  • After independence declaration 14 May ‘48
  • Formed provisional government
  • David Ben Gurion as first Prime Minister
  • Tel Aviv capital
  • Recognised by US and USSR
  • Jerusalem managed by UN
  • Secular state, technically, Arabs have same civil rights
  • Immediately attacked by Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt