First Arab-Israeli War - 1948-1949

• Haganah


  Jewish paramilitary organization in Palestine, pre-Israel.
• Skoda factory

  Czechoslovakian factory supplying arms to Jewish forces.
• Arab League

  Coalition of Arab states opposing the UN partition plan.
• Arab Liberation Army

  Volunteer force organized to fight against Israel.
• Haifa

  Major port city captured by Jews in April 1948.
• Deir Yassin

  Arab village where Jewish fighters killed all inhabitants.
• Israeli Declaration of Independence


  Statement declaring the formation of the State of Israel.
• David Ben-Gurion

  First Prime Minister of Israel.
• Nakba

  Arabic term for the 'Year of Catastrophe' for Arabs in 1948.
• Arab League Invasion

  Invasion of Israel by Arab states in May 1948.
• Bernadotte

  UN negotiator who brokered truces during the war.
• West Bank

  Territory occupied by Jordanian forces to the west of River Jordan.
• Gaza

  Territory seized by Israel from Egyptian forces in July 1948.
• Second Truce

  UN-brokered ceasefire in late July 1948
• Stern Gang

  Assassinated UN negotiator Bernadotte in September 1948
• Negev Desert


  Secured by Israeli forces from Egyptian forces
• Galilee


  Secured by Israeli forces from Syrian forces
• Partition

  Bernadotte's compromise plan based on dividing land
• Gaza Strip

  Territory held by Egypt, not under Israeli control
• Irgun

  Israeli paramilitary group pre-1948
• Israeli Defence Force (IDF)

  Israeli military, well-led and organized
• Law of Return

  1950 law allowing Jews worldwide to settle in Israel
• Fedayeen

  Palestinian militia striking at Israel post-1948
• Nasser

  New leader in Egypt post-1948 war
• Hebrew as common language

  Despite diverse backgrounds, settlers in Israel adopted Hebrew as the common language.
• Compulsory military service

  Introduced for all young people in Israel, molding them into fellow citizens.
• Nation under siege

  Israel maintained high alert due to perceived threats, launching reprisal attacks.
• Mossad

  Israeli secret service established in 1949 for intelligence and special operations.
• Absentees' Property Law

  Permitted the state to seize land of fleeing Palestinians for Jewish settlements.
• Economic boycott

  Neighboring Arab states boycotted Israel economically to force submission.
• Financial aid from USA


  USA provided $65 million in official aid to assist in building Israel.
• Palestinian marginalization


  Post-1948, Palestinians in Israel faced discrimination and were marginalized.
• Plight of Palestinian refugees

  Majority fled during 1947-49, impacting the Palestinian community significantly.
• Deir Yassin massacre


  Infamous event aiding Palestinian refugee crisis in 1948.
• UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)


  Special UN commission supporting Palestinian refugees.
• Absentees' Property Law of 1950

  Israeli law seizing property of Palestinian refugees.
• Fatah

  Palestinian group formed in 1959 from Fedayeen.
• Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO)


  Established in 1964, a significant Palestinian group.
• Nationalism in Arab states

  Rise post-1948, leading to political changes and reforms.
• King Abdullah

  Assassinated in 1951, criticized for little help to Palestinians.