Arab Israeli War Of 1948 1949

Arab-Israeli war of 1948-1949
Lifting of the Israeli flag to Eilat at the end of the war.
General Information
Date	May 1948 - March 1949
Location	Israel
Issue	Israeli victory, Armistice agreements of 1949 Arab-Israeli
Belligerents
Israel IDF troops and paramilitaries: Haganah , Irgun , Lehi	Kingdom of Egypt Kingdom of Iraq Jordan Syria Lebanon Saudi Arabia Yemen Arab Liberation Army Jihad al-Muqadas
Commanders
Yaakov Dori Yigael Yadin	John Bagot Glubb Hassan Salameh Fawzi al-Qawuqji Ahmed Ali al-Mwawa
Forces present
29 677 soldiers (early war) 115 000 soldiers (end of war)	10 000 soldiers (early war) 20 000 soldiers (end of war) 5000 soldiers (early war) 18 000 soldiers (end of war) 6 000 to 12 000 soldiers 2 500 to 5,000 soldiers 1 000 to 2 000 soldiers 800 to 1 200 soldiers 500 to 1 000 soldiers 10 000 to 12 000 soldiers
Losses
4 000 soldiers killed 2400 civilians killed	between 12 000 and 20 000 Palestinian Arabs killed (civilians and military)
Arab-Israeli conflict
Battles
Operation Namal Battle of Latrun Battle of Malkiya Campaign 10 days Operation Dani Operation Dekel Operation Kedem Operation Avak Operation Yoav Operation Hiram Operation Horev Battle of Nitzanim - Operation Nahshon
change

The Arab-Israeli war of 1948-1949 starts on 15 May 1948 and ends with the various cease-fire, Israeli-Arab agreements between February and July 1949. It is a direct response to Civil War of 1947-1948 in mandatory Palestine.

Since 30 November 1947 and the vote of Partition Plan for Palestine , the Jewish paramilitary forces clash with Palestinian Arab irregulars and volunteers from the Arab Liberation Army and the British who are responsible for administering the country 's evacuate. Palestinian forces were defeated, several mixed cities, with the notable exception of Jerusalem, are under the control of the Jewish forces, and 350 to 400 000 Palestinians have already taken the road of exodus.

On 14 May 1948 at midnight, the British Mandate over Palestine ended officially. The State of Israel was proclaimed in the day on part of the territory. Given the situation, the neighboring Arab states, who oppose the creation of Israel, decided to intervene, and several Arab armies entering the old Palestine Mandate. Palestinian Arab forces are for their dissolved or integrated into the Arab armies. The "first Arab-Israeli war, also called" war of Israeli independence, "officially begins.

May 15 to June 11 , Arab forces are on the offensive, but get no decisive success against the Israeli defenses. Both sides suffered heavy losses, especially around Jerusalem , and after accepting the truce force one month requested by the mediator of the UN. Arab forces are then positioned around the areas controlled by the Jews but were unable to enter or complete the blockade of Jerusalem.

The truce is exploited by both sides to strengthen their system. The Israelis, who six months earlier had only one submarine force equipped with 5000 men succeed more effectively, widely mobilizing the civilian population, and bringing weapons in large numbers in the country. Following the truce, July 10, they find themselves superior in both number of fighters and equipment to confront opponents politically and geographically divided, and whose military training was insufficient.

While the UN proposes other ways of sharing , the Israelis launched in July 1948 to March 1949 a series of military operations interspersed with cease-fire , taking control of the entire Galilee , south-west Samaria , the bulk of the coastal area, west of Judea to the sector Jerusalem , and finally the Negev.

During the period from 15 May 1948 to mid-April 1949, more than 350,000 Palestinians (about 750,000 of all the Palestinian exodus ) take the road from exodus, fleeing the fighting or expelled from areas controlled or conquered by Israel .

Background

Arab-Zionist Conflict in Mandatory Palestine

Anti-Zionist demonstration in Damascus Gate (Jerusalem), March 8, 1920.

The partition plan for Palestine of 1947. Orange territories allocated to Israel, yellow ones assigned to the Palestinian state, and the white area of Jerusalem under international control.

Since 1920, under the name of Mandatory Palestine , the country was under British control and administration. But it is also the object of a struggle between nationalist Jewish Zionist and Palestinian Arab who oppose each other and to the "occupier" UK .

The Palestinian struggle culminating in the Great Revolt of 1936-1939 , eventually crushed by the British, aided by the Haganah , the armed wing of the Jewish Agency for Palestine.

After 1939 and the third White Paper on Palestine of Great Britain , which formally renounce any prospect of a Jewish state in Palestine and blocking Jewish immigration, the main conflict between Zionists and Great Britain. As of February 1944 , armed groups Zionists ( Irgun and Lehi , joined in October 1945 by the Haganah ) trigger a wave of anti-British violence, which lead them to renounce February 18, 1947 to their mandate on Palestine .

In 1947, the UN was in favor of a plan to partition Palestine between two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The major powers have backed the project, but without the British, who abstain, and against the hostile vote of all the Arab countries .

Features Transjordanian

Officially, the Arab League supports the idea of a Palestinian state in all Palestine. Transjordan, which has the most powerful Arab army in the region (the Arab Legion ), but a different project: to annex the largest possible portion of Palestine, by preventing the creation of a Palestinian state , leaves to accept a Jewish state on part of the country.

In February 1948, during a meeting in London (where it is represented by its Prime Minister), King of Transjordan, Abdullah ^I. obtained British support for its plan to annex the Arab part of Palestine. "The English . British officers who command the Legion will remain in his service if he does not attack the Jewish state. London does not want an invasion of Jewish areas, or the creation of a Palestinian state led by the Grand Mufti .

The position of Transjordan, facing strong public pressure against the creation of Israel, is also difficult, and as such remains secret, Abdallah ^I. officially rejecting the creation of a Jewish state . The partial agreement reached with secrecy and the Jewish Agency (the de facto acceptance of a Jewish state) can become hesitant. Golda Meyerson , who met the king on the eve of war, May 10, 1948, relates to Ben Gurion , "Our interview was friendly. He seemed anxious and his face was shocked. He did not deny our meetings and previous agreements, it would take control of Arab, but today it is one of five "Arab countries. King proposes a new agreement, consistent with his public statements, involving "a united country with autonomy for Jews ", a proposal rejected by the Jewish Agency.

In the end, "at no time attacking the Jordanian forces , non-written . "

London has asked Abdullah not to enter the international zone of Jerusalem and not to fight the Jews. But the pressure of Jerusalem Palestinians who call for help, the fear of East Jerusalem (and its holy places) come down, and given the political, religious and strategic holy city, Abdullah will eventually be involve the Legion .

At the military level, the particularity of Transjordan is that it has one of the best armies in time of hostilities, although small. At the time of the campaign, she has between 8000 and 10 000 men. It is equipped, trained and supervised by officers from 37 to 75 British , headed by the famous Glubb Pasha . Elements of the Arab Legion served in Mandatory Palestine as auxiliary police force for the British. They have however promised to the Jewish Agency and the UN that all Legionnaires in Transjordan would be withdrawn by the end of April. However, they acknowledge that "for technical reasons," May 15, several companies are still present in several West Bank towns and to Latrun. This presence will facilitate the entry "soft landing" of Jordanian forces in Palestine . From May 13, even before the official start of the conflict, the Arab Legion attack with Palestinian irregular settlements of Kfar Etzion, south of Jerusalem, which are taken and destroyed.

Despite its ambiguous positions, which are wary of other Arab states, especially Egypt, the king participates in all meetings of the Arab League , and despite his ambitions arouse suspicion, he was appointed commander in chief (theoretical) Arab forces .

The end of British Mandate Palestine and the defeat

Dark blue: areas of Jewish settlement on ¹ December 1947. Light blue: conquests of Zionist militias during the civil war.

Immediately after the Partition Plan vote, civil war broke out in Palestine between Jewish and Palestinian nationalists. The British forces should remain in the country until the independence of the two states created by the UN , or May 15, 1948, remain generally passive. Until late March, the transactions appear to run for the benefit of the Palestinians and Arab volunteers who fight in Palestine. Traffic between the various Jewish areas is increasingly difficult and they are isolated from each other. In particular, the 100,000 Jews in Jerusalem were besieged .

However, this situation is not indicative of the reality of power relations, which is quite favorable to Jewish forces, better organized . In early April, the Haganah, driven by the need to regain the advantage before entering the war more likely of Arab States, goes on the offensive. Between early April and mid-May 1948, Palestinian militias and the Arab volunteers are crushed. Over the last six weeks of the British mandate, Zionist militias took control of all localities combined, with the exception of Jerusalem , however they manage to replenish, restore communication between Jewish areas and ensure the continuity of territory under their control .

Between 250,000 and 300,000 Arab Palestinians fled before the approach of fighting, hunted by them sometimes expelled by Jewish troops, jump on the migration routes to take refuge in Galilee , in Samaria or in countries neighbors. The Palestinians and their leaders are defeated and will not play any role in the aftermath of the war.

Entry of Arab armies in Palestine (May 15, 1948 to June 11, 1948)

A Hotchkiss H-39 supplied by France in June 1948 on a decision of 16 March 1948 .

Although the total forces of the Arab armies are nominally very important , the forces that actually penetrate into Palestine from May 15, 1948 are substantially level with the Jewish forces while being handicapped by a divided command, and very long lines refueling.

Military Situations

On 15 May, the official end of British Mandate, and in the days that follow, the Arab armies come into Palestine.

According to the sources, they account for 5 500 to 10 000 Egyptians , between 4500 and 9000 legionnaires Transjordanians, between 6000 and 7000 Syria, between 4500 and 8000 and between Iraqis "a handful" and 3000 Lebanese ^, . They join the 12 000 Palestinian Arab irregulars and 5-6 000 men ^, of the Arab Liberation Army .

They face the Haganah and its 30 000 to 35 000 ^, men, equally divided into a fixed force and half in a mobile force , which we must add the 3000 men of the Irgun and Lehi .

Although historians differ on the exact composition of forces, they generally consider the forces involved are numerically equivalent but insisted that the Israelis do not have heavy weapons and aircraft . It has been bought in Europe but is still only weakly reached the Israeli forces. However, "from May 14, . These weapons have been purchased previously, and some are already at sea at the time of the creation of the state.

Jon and David Kimchi give the following table of forces on May 15, 1948 which exemplifies the relationship of forces:

Participation in the Lebanese war

The traditional historiography takes into account the 3000 men of Lebanese forces in the Arab armies. Benny Morris spoke about him in a "handful" of men actually engaged.

In fact, just days before the entry of Arab forces in Palestine, the Lebanese announced that they will not participate in operations forcing the Syrians and Iraqis to review their plans . Ben-Gurion would have obtained in June 1947 Maronite Lebanese government not to intervene in the fighting for a few thousand pounds and some Shiites of Lebanon have expressed reservations about intervention . The Lebanese army is deployed along the coastal road, the Lebanese side and 300 volunteers commanders allow Christians to join the Arab Liberation Army or the Syrians .

David against Goliath?

Israeli popular consciousness has been built around the idea of "a tiny David confronting a Goliath Arab Jewish Giant" . We find this vision in the work by Collins and Lapierre, O Jerusalem, where the authors s oulignent that the Arab world is an entity 30 times more populous and 200 times larger than Palestine and is frequently encountered the saying goes that "seven Arab armies invaded the newly created Jewish state . "

For its part, the traditional Israeli historiography has always been more cautious, having rather an equal balance of power on May 15, as shown in the table of Jon and David Kimchi, dated 1960 .

Since the late 1980s, the "new historians" in Israel, and especially Ilan Pappe and Avi Shlaim emphasize that this is one of the founding myths of Israel and the Yishuv n has never been confronted in the light of its military superiority to a real risk of extermination, except during the first weeks following May 15, where according to Avi Shlaim, "The Jewish community had to fight for survival" . Benny Morris and Yoav Gelber insist on their, the fact that the Jews of Palestine were "sincerely" believe that they would incur the risk. There is also no real controversy between them on the facts: the first rather opposed to the argument that this victory was a "miracle", the latter emphasize the state of mind which Jews have approached the war.

Invasion Plans

The invasion plan was discussed between 11 and 13 May The Syrians support the idea of a joint attack on the Lebanese and Syrian troops along the side towards Acre followed by a movement towards Afula where they were joined by the Arab Legion and the contingent in Iraq. In doing so, they would circle the Galilee. Then they would all move to Nazareth and then converge in the opposite direction to Netanya , in the heart of the coastal plain, cutting off the Jewish state in two. Simultaneously, the Egyptian forces would move along the coast, via Gaza and Ashdod .

King Abdullah nevertheless opposes the plan, which does not meet its own aspirations to control only the east of the former Palestine Mandate. It imposes its position, which consists of an attack following 5-axis penetration: the Lebanese coast to Acre, the Syrians assisted by a contingent of the Legion from the Golan Heights to Safed , the Iraqis toward Afula from South Legion to Ramallah and the Egyptians along the coast south to Ashdod. Lebanese forces, Syrian and Iraqi would then junction south of the Galilee, while the Legion would move to Ashdod and Hebron where she would be joined by Egyptian forces .

Status of forces on ¹ June 1948

For their part, Jews anticipate two possible plans for the invasion. Following the first, a joint force bringing Lebanese, Syrians and part of the Arab Legion penetrate into Galilee along three parallel axes and would move towards Acre, Safed and Nazareth then turns west to besiege Haifa and into the coastal plain while the Legion and the Egyptians invade Judea and the northern Negev. After the second plane, from the SHAY and concentrates on the Iraqi forces and Transjordan, expect two-axis penetration where the Legion would move to Ramallah, Lydda , Ramleh and then move to Tel Aviv while that the Iraqis were heading towards Jenin , Tulkarm and then enter the coastal plain and head towards Haifa from the south .

These contrasting views indicate dissension Arab and Jewish uncertainties about the real intentions of Abdallah. All nevertheless provide a future attack on the Jewish state.

Military Operations

Central Front (Jerusalem)

Entry of Arab forces in Palestine

Upon entry of Arab armies, the front of Jerusalem, where Israelis and Transjordanians opposed, became the most active front. On May 15 , The Arab Legion , whose leadership is largely made up of enough British officers , between Palestine. This expeditionary force consists of :

• ^the 1st Brigade under the command of Colonel Goldie, which includes the ^1st regiment under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Blackden and ^the 3rd regiment under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Newman.
• ^the 3rd Brigade under the command of Colonel Ashton that includes the ² nd regiment under the command of Major Slade and ^the 4th Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Habes Majali
• 5th ^{and 6th} Regiments who act independently.

^The 1st Brigade is heading to Nablus while the ^3rd Brigade takes a stand to Ramallah. John Bagot Glubb , the British officer who commands the Legion sends ^the 4th Regiment take positions in Latrun, Lydda and Ramle it reaches the May 17 , while an infantry company ^of the 2nd Regiment was sent to Jerusalem .

It takes several days to the Israeli General Staff to be aware of the exact deployment of Jordanian forces around Jerusalem and Latrun as these, particularly feared, were announced over several parts of the country .

Battle of Jerusalem

Between May 19 and May 28 , the Arab Legion conducts operations in Jerusalem. The 19, the Jewish Quarter of the Old City is surrounded. On 28, it falls. The Transjordanians expel 1700 Jews who had remained. The loss is symbolically important because it is the neighborhood where the Wailing Wall and many synagogues, including Hourba , the largest synagogue in Jerusalem, which will mostly destroyed. Other Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem resisted by cons. Armed groups of the Irgun and Lehi to fight independently but coordinated to the side of the Haganah and will not be built until later in the IDF , the Israeli army.

Battle of Latrun

Burma Road in the custody of ^the 7th Brigade.

On 17 May, the Arab Legion took control of the position of Latrun, located in Arab territory. In doing so, it controls the only access route from the coastal plain and Jerusalem and thus ensures the siege of the city while protecting access to Ramallah . Between May 25 and June 9, the Israelis tried three times and with heavy losses to conquer the area but without success . Latrun do not fall elsewhere throughout the war.

The Israelis found a solution in the construction industry over the hills of a road bypassing Latrun which is called " Burma Road ". It is essential for the Israelis to re-establish a communication channel to resupply troops in West Jerusalem, equipment and food, otherwise the town will become a besieged Jewish enclave in the Arab area .

Battle of Ramat Rachel

As of May 21, an Egyptian column reached Bethlehem after passing through the Negev and be passed through Beersheba. On 22 May, she shot the southern outskirts of Jerusalem . "The bloody battles take place (...) in the south, against the combined forces of the Legion and ^the 4th Brigade in Egypt, for control of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, which controls access to the new city . "Five times taken and retaken, the kibbutz will eventually remain in the hands of men of the Irgun " . Despite this presence, the Egyptians play a much less active than the Transjordan in the battle for Jerusalem.

Front northeast (Lake Kinneret)

Arab forces deployed on the edge of Lake Tiberias. Late May or early June 1948.

The front of the north-east stretches around Lake Tiberias, both on the Syrian side of the border in the far northern Transjordan.

The Arab side, the troops involved do not involve Transjordanians, concentrated further south, between Tulkarem and Jerusalem. Syrian troops are fighting from the Golan Heights of Syria, Transjordan, while the side, are the volunteers from the Arab Liberation Army and Iraqi troops holding the front south of Lake Tiberias. The importance of Iraqi troops in Transjordan is explained by the fact that Iraq is now led by King Faisal II of Iraq (under the regency of Abdul Illah ), a family member Hashemite , as King of Transjordan , and the fact that Iraqis support the ambitions of King Abdullah in Palestine .

Syrian troops attacked from May 15 "Around the Sea of Galilee, the Jewish army has (...) escape. Three days after they arrived, the Syrians and three Samakh remove Jewish settlements are evacuated. But their luck turns, May 20, before the first kibbutz, Degania , they forced entry, but without reducing it. (...) Bent on their side of the Jordan, the troops of Damascus to re-cross the crush, June 10, the settlement of Mishmar Hayarden : a bridgehead sustainable Israel. Further south, Iraqis, less fortunate, experience failure before the Kibbutz Gesher, before leaving, some to the Jerusalem front, others, May 24, for the triangle .

From late May, the Syrian front, held by the Syrians themselves and reinforcements of the Arab Liberation Army, will be relatively inactive. The rest of the front of Lake Tiberias, Transjordanian side, is also quieter at the end of May, following the redeployment of Iraqi forces to the south.

Front north (Galilee)

Forces in Galilee. Late May-early June 1948.

The conflict takes place on two fronts: the " finger of Galilee "(extreme northeast of Mandatory Palestine), and Galilee itself.

Even in Galilee, the Lebanese forces are more passive. They penetrate only a hundred meters into Palestinian territory. Galilee is mostly held by members of the Arab Liberation Army. The Israelis have a certain advantage in this area, given the weakness of the forces they encounter. The city of Acre (northern coastal belt) has been taken by the Carmeli Brigade May 21, and other villages along the coast, al-Zib, Samaria and Zaba . But the needs of troops on other fronts (especially Jerusalem) prevent them from fully exploiting the weakness of their opponents, and their progress remains limited.

Recognizing this weakness, and parallel to its deployment in the south of Lake Tiberias, the Arab Liberation Army was reorganized to strengthen the front of Galilee via Lebanon, joining the rest of his forces in Galilee. It penetrates easily into Galilee following the relocation of the brigade Yiftach to the central front . It is these forces that the Israelis will face during the operation Hiram of 29 to 31 October 1948.

The departure of the brigade Yiftach for the central front in the device creates voids Israel that the Arab Liberation Army pulls used to strengthen its enclave in central Galilee and Nazareth deploy up while remaining in contact with Lebanon .

Battle of Malkiya

The village of Malkiya is held by a contingent of Israeli soldiers from the brigade Oded newly formed, which is the brigade Yiftach. June 6, he was attacked by hundreds of volunteers from the Lebanese army. They act on their own but with the consent of their superiors and take the village after ten hours of fighting. This battle is the only Lebanese military intervention during the war.

Central Front (Samaria)

Transjordan troops were mainly concentrated around Jerusalem, where heavy fighting taking place, and central Samaria (away from the front line) to take political control of the area as a prelude to annexation. In parallel to this deployment, the ALA, whose Transjordanians distrust, even the order of the Palestine Arab League to reorganize and then be transferred to Galileo .

Faced with the situation in Jerusalem, Iraqi troops are the Arab Legion in Arab towns of Jenin , Nablus and Tulkarem ; allowing Glubb Pasha to concentrate all its forces to Latrun and East Jerusalem. Iraqis themselves are replaced by Gesher before a contingent of the ALA .

Iraqis will remain broadly on the defensive. Exceptionally, they launch an assault on May 25 on Geulim near Netanya , at the request of Glubb Pasha. This is to pressure the Israelis launched their attack at that time on Latrun. The assault was repelled by Iraqi men in the Alexandroni Brigade, and the Israelis perceive the attack as an attempt to cut their territory into two .

June 3, Iraqis turn to repel an Israeli attack on Jenin major launched by the Carmeli Brigade and Golani, after which 34 Israelis were killed and hundreds injured, while we count almost 200 dead among Iraqis and the irregulars who fight alongside them .

After that date and until 11 June, in the presence of forces on both sides remain in a defensive position.

Front South (Negev)

Lines of advance Egyptian late May - early June 1948.

In the south, the Egyptian army met little opposition. It unfolds in three directions.

The greater threat to Israel is the attack by the Second Brigade of General Muhammad Naguib on the coastal strip, the main center of Jewish settlement. Egyptian troops back easily along the coast across the Gaza Strip today, up above of Ashdod , before being arrested in late May by the joint dam of the Givati Brigade, the brigade Hanegev (or Negev) and aviation. The Egyptians are stopped, and never made it to resume the offensive .

The second line of attack focuses on Egyptians North Negev, where a number of Jewish settlements. Despite the attacks, they resist. Egyptians move between them, some insulation, but does not overwhelm. Northeastern Negev is Egyptian, but partially, with notable pockets Israeli .

The third line of attack is on Egyptian Judea , where Egyptian forces took position between Beersheba and south of Jerusalem, especially in Hebron. The absence of Jewish communities in this area makes deployment easy. The Egyptians from reaching Jerusalem to Hebron , and May 23 attack Ramat Rachel with irregular Palestinian Arab and the Muslim Brotherhood ^, . However, the area is dominated by Transjordanians who have their own political project of annexation (which oppose the Egyptians) and a certain tension exists between the two allies .

Kibbutz Nitzanim, located halfway between Ashdod and Ashkelon , in the territory allotted to the Arab state by the partition plan is not in the way of Egyptian forces. On 7 June, they attacked in force, however. The fighting result in the taking of the kibbutz. This is the first Egyptian to win the war and a rare case of surrender of Israeli soldiers.

Coastal plain

After giving the Jewish community in Palestine on the defensive from the beginning of December 1947 and late March 1948, Palestinian irregulars were defeated by the cons-offensive that the Haganah launched on ¹ April, and they no longer play a role notable military from the month of May.

Two major clashes against them and their allies ALA will however still take place after May 14 Both are offensive to the Haganah control of the coastal strip:'Ami Ben-operation and the operation Namal.

Operation Ben'Ami

Theater Operations

As part of Plan Dalet, Yigal Yadin has provided a breakthrough in the western Galilee, where many isolated Jewish settlements. Beyond Acre and to the Lebanese border, this area is however in part attributed to the Arabs by the Partition Plan and the planned route for the entry of Lebanese forces in Palestine . The Lebanese finally falling not in Palestine, they do not participate in the fighting.

The command was entrusted to Moshe Caramel at the head of the brigade Carmeli. It divides into two phases. The first stage began on May 13 evening with advanced along the coast of a column of armored vehicles and trucks of the Haganah, which meets with no resistance. The forces of the Arab Liberation Army present in the area retreated without fighting, and the operation ends with the taking of Acre on May 18. In a second phase, from 19 to 22 May , the forces of 21 ^Battalion to make a breakthrough Yehi'am kibbutz. Many Arab villages are conquered and destroyed in the wake .

Operation Namal

Position of Al-Tantura, the main town in the last pocket of resistance of the Palestinian coastal strip on the road Tel-Aviv - Haifa.

The issue is the offensive zone Tantura (now Hof-Dor, Israel), located on the seafront, near Caesarea , south of Haifa.

With the capture of Haifa in Israel and the departure of the Arabs of Caesarea , Tantura becomes the single point of withdrawal of Arabs fleeing by road from Zichron Yaakov (the interior). As such, Tantura serves as port of shipment to Palestinian refugees fleeing to Lebanon. As a coastal area, Tantura is also the stronghold of arms supply villages in the region. It is the pivot of the last area still held by the Palestinians on the road from Tel Aviv to Haifa.

Israelis evaluate the opponent to 300 fighters equipped with 100 guns, tens of pistols and a 40 mm gun with some shells.

The attack began at midnight on May 23, 1948. The clashes 70 victims among the Arabs, and 14 among Israelis, including a soldier of the Navy. The civilian population fled, civilians stayed behind expelled to the West Bank . A massacre would have also occurred. This thesis has generated a lively debate among Israeli historians .

The creation of the IDF

The "May 28, 1948, David Ben Gurion publishes its Fourth Order, which formalizes the creation of the IDF , "which immediately absorbs the Haganah .

Comply with an agreement signed on April 9 between the Irgun and the Jewish Agency , Menachem Begin agreed to ^"1 June 1948 to put its men and equipment available to the Israeli army in which members IZL ( Irgun ) will form their own battalions . The Lehi joined the IDF from May 29

The Irgun and Lehi n'alignent respectively than 4000 fighters and 1000 , furthermore held in suspicion by the new government of David Ben-Gurion for their "terrorist" activities past and their political sympathies.

Despite these integrations, the Irgun and Lehi continued to exist until September in Jerusalem , which the UN plans to turn into "international zone" but where the clash Arab Legion and the Jewish forces. National agreements to integrate such organizations in the IDF does not apply to them, as Israel does not formally decide to annex the area later. On the ground, the battle groups of the Irgun and Lehi coordinate with the army.

Results

Video News of 03/06/1948 French: Evolution battles.

During the first months of fighting, 1,600 Israelis have been killed including 1,200 soldiers. One third of the soldiers was in clashes against the Arab Legion. In Jerusalem, Israelis deplore 383 dead and 1433 injured. The Arab side, between 250 and 300 legionaries were killed and between 500 and 600 wounded. Syrians lament 315 deaths and between 400 and 500 wounded 200 Iraqis killed and 500 wounded 600 dead Egyptians and 1,400 wounded Lebanese one death. Losses are estimated at ALA a hundred men. Palestinian casualties are not known. The Arabs were also 800 prisoners Israelis while the Israelis have done 1300, mostly Palestinians .

The Israelis have taken several towns ( Tiberias , Safed , Haifa , Beit Shean , Jaffa , Acre ) and 50 villages located beyond the lines of the partition plan. Arab armies occupy 14 Jewish settlements, including one located on the territory covered by the UN to belong to the Jewish state. The Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem fell. There are only 12 Arab villages on the Israeli territory of the partition plan that are beyond the authority of the Jewish state. Within the boundaries of the partition plan, Arabs captured 350 km ² of Israeli territory and 700 km ² of Israeli Arab territory (the Negev is not included in this count) .

Between May 15 and June 11, Israeli troops have managed to maintain control over territories in their hands before May 15, but not really expand. The link between the coastal Israeli and Jewish Jerusalem is maintained at the cost of hard battles. For their part, Arab forces were mainly occupied areas with Arab populations of the former Mandatory Palestine , but failed to extend them. The Arab Legion , considered the most seasoned Arab force, deployed on the west bank of the Jordan, which it intends to annex Arab areas. Accordance with the "tacit agreements" entered into before war between Abdullah and the Zionist leaders, it has not directly attacked Israeli forces. This attitude has not prevented heavy fighting in the Jerusalem area Latrun that both parties covet.

The Israelis now have a real army and heavy weapons now coming in droves. Unlike the Arab forces, they have a centralized command and can move troops from one end of the front to another. June 11, when the cease-fire, Israeli and Arab armies are exhausted but appear in equilibrium, none of the protagonists clearly prevails.

First Truce (June 11, 1948-July 8, 1948)

Video News of the French 23/06/1948: Announcement of the truce.

On May 22 , the Security Council UN offers a truce to the belligerents .

It is accepted by the Israelis on May 24, needing time to enter the country's heavy weaponry purchased in Europe. The Transjordan, which have substantially achieved their objectives (occupation of Arab Palestine) will quickly accept the principle . Other Arab states refuse at first, hoping to gain advantage on the ground. However, their advance was blocked, they accept the truce on June 8 and the truce was finally declared on June 11.

The truce lasted 28 days. The cease-fire is supervised by the UN mediator Folke Bernadotte , appointed May 20 An arms embargo is decided by the UN so that neither party takes advantage of the truce. The King of Transjordan visit the part of Jerusalem controlled by his troops.

Embargo

The Israelis come to circumvent the embargo, they have sources of supply underground since 1947 with the Eastern bloc , and go through them to illegally obtain (from the perspective of the UN) weapons from of Czechoslovakia , . Among them, heavy weapons, "planes, artillery and armored vehicles. Intensive mobilization is the size of the army to 60,000 men " .

Arab forces, they are dependent on their official suppliers (British, especially) and can therefore circumvent the embargo . This essentially proves favorable to Israel, which reinforce their military potential, while the Arab armies stalled.

If the truce allows the IDF to arm themselves, it also allows Ben Gurion to reorganize.

The Altalena fire by the IDF , June 22, 1948.

Between June 11 and July 8, 1948, the Prime Minister decides to dissolve the three brigades of the Palmach (the elite forces of the Haganah ), which he considers to be too close to the left and Mapam. For its part, the Irgun had previously obtained after June ¹ to retain specific units within the IDF. But the government, and especially David Ben Gurion , did not wish to allow more units "right" than "left" to continue to exist within the army. These units are also dissolved during the lull after the incident of the Altalena , 21 and 22 June, when the Irgun tried to obtain weapons independently, without reference to the direction of IDF. "After June 22, the Irgun had virtually ceased to exist as an autonomous military force except in Jerusalem. Its battalions were dissolved in the army and arrest warrants were issued against several of its leaders . Members of the disbanded units are distributed in other units of the IDF.

With the dissolution of the units near the extreme left and those favorable to the right, Ben Gurion ensures the full authority of civil government on the new army. "Unified, disciplined, armed and trained properly, the IDF became a formidable strike force" 60 000 fighters.

Campaign 10 days (July 8, 1948 to July 18, 1948)

After the first attacks in Egypt, the ten days between the two truces were dominated by a wave of attacks on Israelis and Arabs on the defensive. The three Israeli offensives taking place have been prepared during the first truce. The operation Dani , the largest, aims to secure and expand the corridor between Israeli Jerusalem and Tel Aviv by capturing the towns steps Ramle and Lydda (later renamed Lod).

The second offensive, the Operation Dekel , aims to capture the Galilee, including the Arab city of Nazareth.

Finally the operation Kedem , who is assigned the least resources, aims to secure the old neighborhoods of Jerusalem ^{Operation Dani}

A tank in Yad la-Cromwell Shiryon Museum, Israel.

In order to open up Jerusalem, the General Staff launched Operation Larlar to enter the Jordanian sector along the axis: Lydda - Ramle - Latrun - Ramallah. Only the first phase, Operation Dani, succeeded, with the conquest of Lydda and Ramle. Latrun and Ramallah did not fall.

Lydda is protected mainly by the army of Transjordan seconded by Palestinian militias. The town is attacked simultaneously by the north and east. For the first time in the conflict, Israeli bombers were used in the attack on the city.

On 11 July 1948, the city fell to the Israelis and Ramle was captured the next day.

The 15 and July 16 , a first strike against Latrun fails. On July 18 , the brigade Yiftach leads a second attack with armed vehicles (including two tanks Cromwell ), but the offensive again leads to a failure of Israel .

The capture of Lydda and Ramle accompanied by one of the largest massacres of the war. Over 250 people are executed after the fighting . In addition, from July 14 , Israeli forces expelled many inhabitants of Lydda ( Lod ), Ramle and surrounding areas, and push them on the road to Ramallah. Such evictions around 50 000 to 60 000 inhabitants on 80 000 .

These events are not yet recognized officially by Israel today. In 2000, The Conquest of Lydda, july 1948 , published by the Ministry of Defence admits that a "partial expulsion" and deny any massacre .

Operation Dekel

While Operation Dani takes place in central Somalia, Operation Dekel is conducted to the north. The operation is headed by Haim Laskov which has the 7 ^th Brigade Sheva, under the command of the volunteer Canadian Jewish Ben Dunkelman of 21 ^Battalion Carmeli Brigade and the ^13th battalion of the Golani Brigade .

The operation is conducted in two phases. Initially, from July 8, Israeli troops are moving eastward from Acre to Nazareth that is captured July 16. In a second step, from July 15 to 18, they seized two dozen villages surrounding Nazareth .

On 18 July at 19h, while the second truce was declared, Israel occupies southern Galilee, the Bay of Haifa to the Sea of Galilee.

There is some controversy surrounding the conquest of Nazareth. Ben Dunkelman, meanwhile appointed military governor of the city, said he had received by Haim Laskov order to proceed with the expulsion of the inhabitants of the city. "Shocked and horrified," he refuses and demands of orders from higher authorities. The incident goes back to Ben Gurion which prohibits the expulsion, blaming initial order to Moshe Caramel , commander of the northern front. The inhabitants of Nazareth are not expelled but Haim Laskov Governor shall appoint another officer to Nazareth .

Operation Kedem

Operation Kedem aims to take the entire city of Jerusalem, especially the old city , fell to Transjordan, who expelled the Jewish population.

Initially planned to be conducted by the Irgun and Lehi on July 9, just after the first truce, Operation Kedem was postponed by David Shaltiel. Indeed it calls into question their chances of success after the failure of the capture of Deir Yassin without the help of the Haganah.

The attack plan provides that the forces of the Irgun, commanded by Yehuda Lapidot (Nimrod), must enter through the Bab al Jadid, Lehi through the wall from Bab al-Jadid and the Jaffa Gate, finally the battalion Beit Hiron through the Mount Zion .

The battle is scheduled to begin with Shabbat , Friday, July 16 at 20h, one day before the second cease-fire. However, the organization goes wrong and the operation is delayed until 23h and then at midnight to eventually start at 2.30am. The Irgun was able to clear a path through the Bab al-Jadid, but other squads fail in their objectives. At 5:45 am, David Shaltiel was forced to order the cessation of hostilities and withdraw its troops . The old city will remain in the hands of Transjordan and Jordanians until 1967.

Second Truce (July 18, 1948 to October 15, 1948)

The "July 15, the Security Council condemns in terms of great severity Arab aggression, ordered a cease-fire and threatened to apply to the recalcitrant party to the penalties provided by Article VII of the UN Charter . On the ground, military defeats accumulate to the Arab side "this time, the Arabs take the exact measure of their failure, as well as the British, who panicked, pressed for a truce. Effective July 17 in Jerusalem, the cease-fire was extended the next day to the entire country. Seen from the Jewish side of the barricade, the "Ten Days War" as they called the July campaign is a success " .

Folke Bernadotte , UN envoy

Ralph Bunche , who replaced Bernadotte (1951).

Video News of the French 23/06/1948: Announcement of the truce.

In the new truce, diplomats are trying to find a solution to the conflict. On September 16 , Folke Bernadotte proposed a new partition plan for Palestine in which Transjordan would annex Arab areas including the Negev, Lydda and Ramle. It's the end of the hypothesis of a Palestinian state. The plan also provides for a Jewish state occupying the entire Galilee, the transition between the coastal strip and Jerusalem under international control and the return (or compensation) of refugees. Again, the plan is rejected by all parties.

The Arab states still refuse the existence of Israel but also the annexation by Transjordan 's Arab parts of Palestine.

Israeli side, the plan is considered too negative territorially to Israel, whose armies appear in position to win. The Zionist right, in particular, increases the threats against Bernadotte, ever since its first plan of 27 June 1948, leaving only 20% of Palestinian territory to Israel. On August ¹ , Israel Eldad , one of three leaders of Lehi had already testified at a public meeting in Jerusalem: "the freedom fighters of Israel send a warning to observers of the United Nations . According to Israel Eldad , the decision to kill Bernadotte was taken in August by the three leaders of the "center" (the direction of Lehi) .

The new plan Bernadotte provoked by the act, the day after his announcement. On 17 September , Bernadotte was assassinated by the Lehi. We know today that "The murder was planned by Zettler, the section commander of Jerusalem (the most recent activity and the hardest), it was decided at the highest level by the three leaders of the center" : Nathan Yalin Mor , Yitzhak Shamir and Israel Eldad , and that the execution was entrusted to a veteran of the Lehi, Yhochua Cohen. . The company's integration of the Irgun and Lehi to the IDF, largely initiated during the first truce, is completed with the second. "Zettler said he received an explicit promise of Interior Minister Yitzhak Gnbaum:" You will be condemned to satisfy world opinion. Then you will be pardoned ". In fact, Yalin Mor and his deputy, convicted February 2, 1949 to several years in prison, not for murder but for belonging to a terrorist organization, will be released two weeks after .

Bernadotte was quickly replaced by American Ralph Bunche. It does offer more general plan for peace, merely encourage agreements cease-fire.

During the second truce (18 July to 15 October), the Israeli army has continued to strengthen. It goes from 63,586 fighters in July 17 to 88 033, 7 October 1948 .

The last traces of autonomous armed organizations (Irgun and Lehi) were dissolved after the assassination of Bernadotte.

During these three months of truce, the Israelis "clean" villages still populated and made many homes are blown up for military reasons. They also put in place the preparations for the operation Avak.

During the second truce, in contrast, Arab countries have failed to resolve their initial weaknesses: lack of common command and lack of combatants, which are now outnumbered by Israeli fighters.

Fait Accompli (October 15, 1948-June 1949)

Map of military positions in early October 1948

This period sees the closure of the conflict, and consolidate the territorial area of Israel and Transjordan.

Operation Yoav in the northern Negev (15-22 October 1948)

The situation in the northern Negev is considered unsatisfactory by the Israeli leadership. Indeed, Jewish settlements therein are surrounded by Egyptian forces, preventing the inclusion of the region in the new state, and creating a military situation remains very tense because of the tangle of positions. The Israelis believe they have the military means to gain advantage in the area so it will launch an operation.

The pretext was found by a break in the Egyptian cease-fire, itself caused by sending a supply convoy to Israeli settlements encircled North Negev . "The staff , is well prepared. From the official statement of the breakdown of the truce by the UN observers , he launched an offensive against the Egyptians.

Yigal Allon command the operation, originally called "Ten Plagues" and then renamed Yoav which runs from October 15 to 22, 1948 in the Negev. It has initially three infantry brigades Hanegev , Yiftach and Givati and ^the 8th Armoured Brigade and a consistent support of artillery, all of the small Israeli Navy and a strong air cover provided by the entire new air force. Oded Harel brigades and strengthen over the forehead during the operation ^, .

The Israeli air force begins with "damage . Resistance, about 11 000 men is strong, and several companies are even IDF "trounced" but part of the North Negev still falls into the hands of the IDF, and its capital, Beersheba itself , is captured in a surprise operation on October 21 . "The flagship of the Egyptian fleet, the Emir Farouk, was sunk with 700 men, and ^the 4th Brigade of General Taha Bey 3000 elite fighters, is surrounded in the pocket of Fallujah . The reaction of the allies of Egypt is typical: instead of opening a second front, the Arab Legion of King Abdullah moved towards Bethlehem and Hebron to fill the void left by the Egyptians " . If Israel is expanding its territory, Transjordan did the same. Previously, she held the Samaria (northern West Bank). Thanks to the Israeli offensive, it is now also Judea (Southern West Bank), where it replaces the Egyptians retreated southward to avoid being cut off from their territory by the Israeli attack.

On 22 October, a new cease-fire is imposed on the belligerents, especially the Israelis, who want to push their advantage. Yitzhak Rabin wrote: "We led the fight head on against the Egyptians and a race against time against a truce proposed by the UN " . This reluctance to stop a victorious offensive explains, "during the truce, attacks successive Hebrew soldiers, who repress progressive Egyptians. In mid-November, only still persist, prisoners in the trap of Fallujah, 2 000-3 000 officers and soldiers from Cairo .

View news film on the site of the INA (requires Quicktime) INA.

Operation Hiram in Galilee (28-31 October 1948)

Map of Operation Hiram.

Moshe Caramel, head of Operation Hiram.

Taking advantage of the cease-fire is maintained with Transjordan on the central front, and the cease-fire that has been restored on October 22 with the Egyptians, the Israelis are now working to concentrate their forces in the North against the pocket of the Arab Galilee, which continues to elude them. This pouch is relatively vulnerable, since it is defended by volunteers from the Arab Liberation Army , but no army of a state is deployed there.

Operation Hiram begins Oct. 28. It is preceded by numerous bombings before the entry into operation of four Israeli brigade: Golani, Carmeli, Sheva and Oded under orders from Moshe Caramel . In 60 hours, they drove the 1 500 to 3 000 men of the Arab Liberation Army to Lebanon , and thus complete the conquest of the entire North of the old Palestine Mandate. The Israeli army also depends on the other side of the border with Lebanon , to pursue the fugitives, and progresses to the river and the Litani .

Military casualties on the Arab side are high, with 400 dead and almost as many prisoners .

During and after the operation several massacres (half the total of those committed during the war according to Benny Morris ) will occur and residents of many Palestinian villages will be expelled ^{, , ,} .

Operation Horev and the conquest of northern Negev (December 22 to January 7, 1949)

Operation Horev

"In the Negev, Operation Horev is triggered on December 22, following various Egyptian violations of the cease-fire. (...) The Air Force gives himself fully, making 243 trips and spilling 226 tons of bombs. Not only the Jewish soldiers knock the ultimate Egyptian defenses and reduce the pocket of Fallujah, but they also enter the current Gaza Strip. Diversion, in order to hide, further south, the entry of Israeli troops in the Egyptian Sinai through Al Auja, fell on 27. Violating the border, they will walk the runways of the airport of El Arish, when diplomatic pressure, constant since the beginning of the maneuver will be unsustainable " .

London particular threat to intervene militarily, under its defense treaty with Egypt. The Israeli military evacuated the Sinai. During the operation, Israeli air forces shoot down five British reconnaissance planes " .

Throughout the northern Negev of Israel is now, except the pocket Egyptian Fallujah, which has vigorously resisted, inflicting severe losses to the IDF. The Egyptians evacuate February 24, 1949, after the Israeli-Egyptian armistice.

On the whole operation Horev, the Egyptian ground forces have lost 170 officers and 3,800 men (including 18 airmen and 58 sailors) who were killed, wounded or captured. A brigade is surrounded in the pocket of Fallujah. In these circumstances, the Egypt can not continue the fight and is forced to accept a political agreement .

Operation Ouvda and management of central and southern Negev (March 1949)

Ouvda card operation.

The Israeli army mounts Israel colors March 10 at 16:00 Um Rashrash (future Eilat ), near the Red Sea , putting an end to the conquest of the Negev.

Northeastern Negev Western came under full Israeli control in January 1949. The desert itself (Northwest, Central and southern Negev), with virtually no population, has remained a no man's land, despite a few patrols Transjordan.

The area is mainly attributed to Israel by the partition plan of 1947. But for several months, Israel has refrained from entering, even after the victory over the Egyptians, in early January 1949. The area is not a priority, and commitment of the IDF in an area in any length, sandwiched between the armies of Egypt and Transjordan, is not without risk.

On 24 February, Israel sign a cease-fire with Egypt, which neutralizes the Egyptian army.

After trying unsuccessfully to get Transjordanians they retire themselves, Israel decided to occupy the area, and launched the operation on March 5 Ouvda or Uvda ("done"), with Brigade Golani and Hanegev.

The two highlights are taking Ouvda of Ein Gedi on the western shores of the Dead Sea , March 7, 1949, in front of Transjordan (northwestern Negev), and taking the small fishing village of Arab Um Rashrash March 10, on the Red Sea , which will be built starting in 1950 the port of Eilat at the extreme southern Negev.

From March 5 to 10, the IDF is deployed throughout the Negev. The objective of Transjordan is the time to confirm their conquest of the West Bank , not to revive the war against the Israelis, which also threaten to conquer all Samaria. Transjordan therefore prefers to continue its negotiations on a cease-fire with Israel started in January ), and withdraws from the Negev without a fight.

The units of the Golani brigade Hanegev and compete to see who will reach the Red Sea in the first place. It will be March 10 at 15:00 for the brigade Hanegev and two hours later for the Golani.

Because the operation Ouvda was the last military operation of the war, raising the Israeli flag on the police station in Umm Rashrash March 10 at 16:00 is often seen as symbolically marking the end of the war. Israel's borders, however, become final until June ^1, 1949, after the abandonment by the Transjordan region known as the "Triangle".

The annexation of the triangle (June 1949)

In the north-west of Samaria, the Arab-Israeli front is held by the troops of Hashemites of Iraq , allies of the Hashemite Transjordan. Since the second truce of 18 July 1948, clashes have continued between Israelis and Iraqis Transjordanians. Several reasons explain this: the Israelis have given priority to conquer the North Negev and Galilee , Transjordan and the Israelis respect their territorial sharing of partial agreement dating from late 1947, the Transjordan have a defense agreement with London that worries Israelis (it is known today as the British did not intend to intervene except in cases of invasion of Transjordan itself, but this information was ignored by the Israelis ); Transjordan and Israeli armies are stronger the conflict and confrontation is potentially very costly, as demonstrated by the fighting around Jerusalem in May, June and July 1948.

As of January 1949, informal undertake political negotiations between Israel and Transjordan . They turn into formal negotiations to Rhodes from the end of February 1949. The Iraqis have refused to participate in negotiations on a cease-fire, Abdullah I of Transjordan then negotiates for the entire area. Indeed, "the king, who distrusted . The Israelis want to trade for small areas in the valley of Beit She'an and near Hebron against two large areas (later called " Triangle ") to reduce the vulnerability of the coastal plain. They threaten the Jordanians to resume hostilities if they do not comply . " . Jordanian, British and Americans fear that the inhabitants are expelled by the Israelis but they assure them they will carry out deportation . In late March, the King yields to Israeli pressure , "probably because the Iraqi government withdrew its contingent "and March 30 1949, an armistice was signed .

Israeli troops taking small-to-small control box from 6 May and are generally welcomed by the population. The men were given strict orders not to attack her. The transfer of authority takes place quietly, almost without expulsion, transfer, or pressure on the people . The Israelis expelled the refugees still present in the Triangle, arguing that the armistice agreements only protect the local inhabitants and the refugees are causing problems for them . On ¹ June, the Israelis complete the takeover of the area effectively.

With this last operation, Israel eventually to draw boundaries that will be hers until 1967.

Consequences

The Syrian Husni al-Zaim , author of the first military coup in the post-war in an Arab country.

Map of territorial changes between 1947 and 1949: the Palestinian state under the partition plan of 1947 is not created. Israel, Egypt and Jordan share its territory

In 1949, Israel has signed agreements of cease-fire with Egypt ( Feb. 24 ), Lebanon ( 23 March ), Transjordan (the April 3 ) and Syria ( July 20 ). Iraq refuses cons of entering into negotiations for an armistice .

The consequences of Israeli victory are multiple, at once political, military, territorial and demographic.

Political consequences

Politically, the Arab states have been shaken by the defeat ( Al Nakba , the catastrophe). Most politicians of the period will be assassinated or overthrown in the years that followed, amid surge of Arab nationalism: the assassination of Prime Minister Egyptian Pasha Nokrachy end in December 1948 by a Muslim Brother , in March 1949 overthrow of Syrian President Shukri al -Kuwatli by the military coup of Husni al-Zaim , murder of Abdullah I of Jordan by a Palestinian on 20 July 1951 ; coup in Egypt July 23, 1952 .

In Israel, Mapai (Labor Party) was already the dominant party in the Yishuv since 1931. Military victory strengthens further its prestige. He will remain in power for another almost 30 years until the election victory of Likud in 1977.

Military implications

Militarily, the British left Palestine, which was one reason for Soviet support for Israel.

Questioned for its support for Arab armies deemed insufficient, Great Britain will leave the following years the countries of the region where it was still a military presence in Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. This is what triggers including the Suez crisis .

The Israeli army asserted its side as a major military power in the region.

Demographic Consequences

If we add the period of civil war that preceded it, the first Arab-Israeli war caused 5 700-5 800 deaths on the Israeli side of which a quarter of civilians and 500 women, representing 1% of its population. The war also caused 12,000 serious injuries. This is the bloodiest war of the Israeli-Arab Israelis .

Palestinian side, the number of victims has never been accurately counted. In 1950, Amin al-Husseini the figure to 12 000 deaths . Benny Morris considers between "slightly and significantly" higher than Israeli casualties . Rosemarie Esber the estimated 20 000 .

Regarding the Arab armies of Egypt announced in 1950 the figures for 1400 deaths and 3700 invalid. Jordanians, Iraqis and Syrians suffered several hundred dead and several dozen Lebanese .

Palestinian refugees in 1948, at the end of the British Mandate

Demographically, the population of the region is fundamentally changed.

The conflict has caused the exodus of some 750,000 Palestinian Arabs on the 900,000 who lived in what became Israel ( map of the Palestinian exodus ) while more than 600,000 Jews from Arab countries emigrated to Israel ( map Jewish exodus ). Some 150,000 Palestinians remain in Israel and receive Israeli citizenship. Refugees, meanwhile, are mostly in the current West Bank to Gaza , in Jordan , to Lebanon and Syria. Following the annexation of the West Bank, Palestinian refugees acquire Jordanian nationality while in other countries other refugees form what became the Palestinian diaspora .

The circumstances and causes of the Palestinian exodus is subject to debate and controversy among historians, although all seem to agree, following the opening of Israeli archives in the 1980s, only to find that the Israeli soldiers proceeded to numerous evictions , especially after June 1948 .

(0 votes, average: 0.00 out of 5, rated)

 Loading ...

Help us improve the wiki Send Your Comments