The Making of Modern Israel: 1948-1967On May 14, 1948 the State of Israel was declared, announced by David Ben-Gurion at a small gathering that assembled in the main hall of the Tel Aviv Art Museum. Within a time frame of only nineteen years, culminating in the Six-Day War, Israel fought three separate wars. But within its first four years, thanks to mass immigration, its population doubled. Furthermore, Israel had been confronted with acute economic difficulties, intra Jewish ethnic tensions, a problematic Arab minority and a secular-religious divide. Apart from defence issues, Israel faced a generally hostile or, at best, indifferent international community rendering it hard pressed in securing great power patronage or even official sympathy and understanding. Based on a wide range of sources, both in Hebrew and English, this book contains a judicious synthesis of the received literature to yield the general reader and student alike a reliable, balanced, and novel account of Israel?s fateful and turbulent infancy. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acts Arab arms army arrived assistance attack Aviv became began Ben-Gurion border Brigade Britain British cabinet called Campaign Canal claimed close commander continued Dayan defense direct early East Eban Egypt Egyptian entered entire Eshkol established face finally fire forces foreign four France Gaza hand head housing immigrants Independence Israel Israeli issued Jerusalem Jewish Jews Jordan Jordanian July June Kibbutz killed land later leading living London Mapai March military minister Morris Nasser October officers Operation original Palestine Palestinian paratroopers party peace percent planes plans political population positions president Press quoted Rabin refugees relating religious remained resolution response result Sde Boker seats Security settlements Sinai soldiers Soviet Syrian taken tanks territory took troops turn United village West