MAY 11 • 2023 | 17

Europe who are anxious to begin life anew in 
the Yishuv.
”
In the aftermath of WWII and the 
Holocaust, the Zionist cause became an 
urgent matter. Despite restrictions imposed 
by the British government on Jewish 
immigration to Eretz Yisrael, its population 
steadily increased.
Many serious disagreements and conflicts 
occurred between Jews and British Mandate 
Palestine authorities as Jews became 
increasingly anxious to establish a nation. 
Some Jewish groups were extremely resistive 
and there was some bloodshed between them 
and British authorities. Nevertheless, Jewish 
leaders such as David Ben-Gurion, Chaim 
Weizmann and many others strove to create a 
nation amidst the chaos. 
Finally, almost 30 years after the Balfour 
Declaration, the United Kingdom announced 
its decision to quit Mandate Palestine in 1948. 
Just prior to British withdrawal, in November 
1947, the United Nations agreed upon a 
partition plan that would give both Jews 
and Arabs areas of settlement. But the Arab 
nations surrounding Eretz Yisrael refused 
to accept the new plan. Many Arabs were 
anti-Jewish and viewed Jews as intruders, 
despite the legal purchase of land by Jewish 
immigrants.

A NATION IS BORN
On May 14, 1948, the British pulled out of 
Palestine, and David Ben-Gurion declared the 
State of Israel. Ben-Gurion was a visionary, 
and he became the first prime minister of 
the new nation. Ben-Gurion opined that, 
“In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must 
believe in miracles.
”
The declaration of the State of Israel was 
celebrated by Jews around the world. There 
were joyous gatherings in Israel. Rallies were 
held in Detroit to commemorate the occasion, 
and many Jewish Detroiters sent financial 
and material support to the nascent state. The 
Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News joined the 

celebration. But the pure joy was short-lived.
On the same day that Israel declared 
its independence, the armies of Egypt, 
Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq 
immediately attacked. They outnumbered 
Israelis by about 10-1. Israel’s War of 
Independence was a brutal affair, lasting over 
a year, but Israel emerged the victor. 
Once established as a new nation, Israel’s 
survival was not guaranteed. It has been said 
that Israel lives in a rough neighborhood. 
Arab nations surrounding the new nation 
hoped to wipe Israel from the map. Losing a 
war would mean the end of Israel as a nation 
and, likely, another mass killing of Jews. 
There were internal political and economic 
challenges for Israel along with the existential 
external threat.
Israel has endured numerous attacks 
and acts of terrorism since it declared 
independence, but two major wars were 
critical for its survival. In 1967, threatened 
by the massing of Egyptian and Syrian 
armed forces on its border, Israel was 
the first to strike, defeating Egypt, Syria 
and Jordan in six days. In the famous 
“Six-Day War,
” Israeli paratroopers also 
reunited Jerusalem with Israel. The city had 
previously been controlled by Jordan. 
In 1973, Egypt and Syria struck first on 
Yom Kippur. After near-disastrous opening 
battles, Israel eventually prevailed but not 
before serious Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) 
casualties. Finally, peace treaties were 
signed with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 
1994. 
Despite those pacts, Israel today is still 
facing hostile nations on its borders and 
security remains a prime issue. The Israeli 
Defense Forces are Israel’s citizen armed forces 
charged with protecting the nation. Young 
Jewish Americans, known as “Lone Soldiers,
” 
have done their part to protect Israel. They 
have served and still serve in the IDF.

“IN ISRAEL, IN ORDER TO BE A REALIST, 

YOU MUST BELIEVE IN MIRACLES.” 

— David Ben-Gurion

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