How was Israel founded?
The formation of Israel as a modern state was a complex process that unfolded over several decades in the first half of the 20th century. Here’s an overview of the key events that led to Israel’s establishment:
Zionist Movement and Early Immigration
The roots of Israel’s formation can be traced back to the late 19th century:
• In 1897, the First Zionist Congress was held in Basel, Switzerland, led by Theodor Herzl, which advocated for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
• From the 1880s onward, waves of Jewish immigration to Palestine began, establishing agricultural colonies.
British Mandate Period
Following World War I, the British gained control over Palestine:
• In 1917, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, expressing support for a Jewish national home in Palestine.
• In 1922, the League of Nations placed Palestine under British Mandate, incorporating the Balfour Declaration.
Increasing Tensions and UN Partition Plan
As Jewish immigration increased, particularly in the 1930s due to Nazi persecution, tensions rose between Arab and Jewish communities:
• In 1937, Arab resistance to immigration led to a rebellion.
• In 1947, unable to resolve the conflicts, Britain turned the issue over to the United Nations.
• On November 29, 1947, the UN adopted Resolution 181, recommending the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international administration.
Declaration of Independence
The culmination of these events led to the establishment of Israel:
• On May 14, 1948, as the British Mandate was ending, David Ben-Gurion, head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel.
• The United States, under President Harry S. Truman, recognized the new state on the same day.
War of Independence
Immediately following the declaration, Israel faced military challenges:
• Neighboring Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, invaded the newly proclaimed state.
• Israel successfully defended itself, expanding its territory beyond the UN partition plan boundaries.
• By the end of the war in 1949, Israel controlled about 77% of the former Mandate territory.
The formation of Israel was thus the result of a long-standing Zionist movement, international political decisions, and military conflict, culminating in the establishment of the world’s first Jewish state in two millennia.
