1948 Arab–Israeli War
Lore & Background
Jewish leaders supported the plan; Arab leaders did not. Violence escalated into a civil war the next day. The following morning, Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, and Iraqi expeditionary forces invaded, attacking Israeli forces and settlements.
Reader's Guide
By the war's end, Israel controlled about 78% of the territory, including areas allocated to the proposed Arab state and West Jerusalem. Transjordan took East Jerusalem and the West Bank, annexing it the following year; Egypt occupied the Gaza Strip. The war saw the expulsion of Palestinians, including massacres at Lydda and Ramla, events known as the Nakba, which created the Palestinian refugee problem. The conflict established lasting borders and hostilities that continue to shape the region.
Did You Know?
- By the end of the war, Israel controlled about 78% of former Mandatory Palestine.
- Transjordan formally annexed the West Bank on 24 April 1950, about nine months after the last armistice agreement.
- Hundreds of Palestinians were killed in massacres during expulsions from Lydda and Ramla.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the main combatants in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War?
On one side stood the newly declared State of Israel, and on the other a military coalition of neighboring Arab states that crossed into the former British Mandate territory. The conflict was therefore a regional, multi-state war rather than a single bilateral confrontation.
Why is the 1948 Arab–Israeli War important to Cold War history?
It was the first major armed clash in the Middle East during the early Cold War, immediately drawing in outside powers and setting the stage for decades of regional tension. The resulting borders and mass-displacement situation shaped every subsequent conflict in the region through the rest of the twentieth century.
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