The Middle East: The first Arab-Israeli conflict 1948-1956 (depth)

By evar0se.2018

  • Declaration of a new state of Israel

    The horrors of the Holocaust increased support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine, supported by the Western powers. Seen by Palestinians and Arabs as a form of Western imposition in the Middle East. Creation led to the displacement of many Palestinians.

  • Invasion of Israel by Arab armies

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    Phase 1 of fighting

    South: Egyptian army invade and attack Jewish settlements. North: Iraqi and Lebanese troops cross the border but forced to withdraw due to inexperience and lack of arms and ammunition. Israel gained control of West Jerusalem and any Arabs living in this part of the city fled or were forced out. A ceasefire was arranged that said that no new arms could be sold to either of the countries but Israel managed to secure some from Czechoslovakia and increased their troop numbers to over 60,000.
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    Phase 2 of fighting

    Israel was able to use their new superiority of troop numbers and arms to turn the tide against the Arab armies. Syrian forces were mauled in Galileo and the Lebanese were driven across their own border. Towns were seized back from Arab legions and Israeli focus turned to Egyptians. Palestinian Arab refugees were now numbered at tens of thousands, a humanitarian crisis. A UN mediator formulated a peace plan but was assassinated the next day by Stern Gang
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    Phase 3 of fighting

    Israel completed the conquest of the Galilee by forcing all Syrian, Lebanese and Arab army forces back into their territories. Thereafter, Israel was able to concentrate their full efforts on defeating the Egyptian forces. The Egyptians were surrounded and they were punished for weeks by Israel. Israel was successful in not only driving all Arab forces from Palestine but also invading Egyptian territory - the Sinai desert - forcing Egypt to call on Britain for help.
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    Armistice agreements signed

    The perpetual war starts

  • A truce was struck between Egypt and Israel

    This was despised by Egyptian nationalists

  • End of the First Arab-Israeli War

  • Israeli attack on Gaza

    5 Fedayeen (Arab guerrillas operating against Israel) killed by Israeli border police. Raid on Gaza strip carried out in retaliation

  • Israeli forces invade Egypt

    They were quickly able to overtake Egyptian forces exemplified by the IDF as the strongest force in the Middle East. They took the Sinai region

  • Nasser nationalises the Suez Canal

    Canal initially under Anglo-French control but Nasser's nationalisation reduced great power influence. Nasser wanted to use this to build the Aswan Dam
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    The Second Arab Israeli War (Suez Crisis)