Scrappy Upstart
MVZ247 Week 2
From Mandate to Partition
Domestic terrorism
Pressure and Support at UN
Finding allies in Europe
UK, France, Germany
Finding allies in USA
Jewish Americans
President Truman
Partition
UN Partition Resolution (GA 181) divides Palestine into a Jewish State and an Arab
State; Jerusalem was to be internationalized.
GA 181 is supported by US and USSR.
Arab nations as well as the Arab League reject offer, refuse to recognize resolution
The Road to War 1947Attacks
and Reprisals
Arab riots in Jerusalem begin….unrest characterized by skirmishes, roadside ambushes,
bombings and massacres.
On Dec.27 the Irgun (paramilitary/terrorist) bombs Damascus gate killing 20 and
wounding 50. (Levi, 1986: 432). Dec.28 attack a crowd of Arabs outside Haifa oil
refinery with 6 killed and 42 wounded.. Inside, Arab refinerary workers joined by
Arabs from street attack Jewish refinery workers. 41 Jews are killed and 49 wounded.
Road to War
In January, 1948
Arab Salvation Army (ALA) enter Palestine by British (still Mandate)
Jewish Agency concludes arms deal with Czechoslovakia. Arms arrive in June
1948.
Irgun bomb Jaffa Gate
Jewish convoy ambushed
Settlement of Gush Etzion (kibbutz) attacked
February and March and April
SS-trained explosive expert Fawzi el Kuttub blow up the Palestine Post
Source: Collins & Lapierre, 1973:161 ff
Convoy attacks
Ben Yehuda Street bombing by Fawzi and British Army deserters
Jewish Provisional Government formed
Jewish Agency bombing by Fawzi
Deir Yassin massacre of Arabs by Jewish paramilitary/terrorist groups
British Lose Control
Conflicted policy
Protection of inhabitants?
Bias?
Desertions
British soldiers become mercenaries and join ALA
Time, Money, Troops
Lack of time, funds from British govt. and troops force major British reassessment
of policy in Mandate. Refer to UN
Declaration
May 14
David Ben Gurion declares an Independent State of Israel
USA recognizes the new State of Israel
May 17
USSR recognizes the new State of Israel
Israel as a nation is internationally recognized by the two leading superpowers of the
world.
Clear Intent
“We declare that after the termination of the British Mandate, from 15 May 1948 and
until elected authorities of the state would be assembled in accordance with a
constitution accepted by the Elected Constituent Assembly not later than October 1,
1948, the Provisional State Council would act as the temporary State Council, and its
executive institution, the Provisional government of Israel, would constitute the
temporary Government of the Jewish state, which would be named Israel.”
War for Independence
Survival
On May 14, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan invade new State of Israel
Fighting is undertaken by paramilitary groups and Israeli Defense Forces
Intensive, brutal, loss of life both military and civilian
War is from May 1948 until March of 1949
To begin Anew
Borders and displaced peoples
Armistice
Feb-June 1949 separate agreements between Israel and Arab neighbors.
Israel gains roughly 50% more in territory than originally allotted by Partition Plan
Approx. 726,000 Arabs living in Palestine are refugees settling in either Egypt or
Jordan
Gaza fell under the jurisdiction of Egypt and West Bank occupied by Jordan.
Lausanne Conference fails though minor achievements are made.
Working recognition of Israel
Acceptance of UN Resolutions
Now what?
Government
January 1949 elections
Turnout is over 86%
David Ben-Gurion is Prime Minister
Build a country (nation exists…)
Institutions and offices based upon model of the Jewish Agency and Jewish
National Council (or provisional govt. since 1948)
Building a state
Recognition
Solidify international recognition
International Monies
Receive loans from USA and European nations
Defense
IDF protect borders and Jewish population within in state
Sources
Benny Morris “Righteous Victims” (1999)
Yitzhak Levi “9 Measures” IDF. (1986)
Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre “O Jerusalem” (1973)
Chiam Herzog and Shomo Gazit “The Arab Israeli Wars” (2005)