In 1947, a series of significant events began that shaped the Middle East as we know it.
It started when the United Nations voted to split the British-controlled land into two states: one Jewish, one Arab.

The Jewish population celebrated the UN’s decision, seeing it as a step toward their long-awaited state. However, the Arab side rejected the plan and responded with escalating violence against the Jewish population.

On May 14, 1948, Israel declared independence. The very next day, five Arab nations—Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon—invaded, and dragged Israel into a full-scale war for its survival. 

The Arab nations’ attempt to prevent the establishment of Israel failed, and they ended up with less territory than they would have had if they had accepted the UN partition plan.

The war ended in 1949 with an Israeli victory, but the cost was enormous: over 6,000 Israelis—nearly 1% of the Jewish population—were killed. On the Arab side, the war was remembered as “The Nakba,” or “The Catastrophe,” marking a profound loss.

The War of Independence marked the beginning of a new chapter for Israel and the region—a chapter of triumph and tragedy, hope and loss. Its legacy remains a powerful force, shaping the present and the future.

The repeated refusal of the region’s Arabs to recognize the Jewish state led to a new chapter for the Middle East—one of triumph and tragedy, hope and loss. This legacy continues to shape the lives of millions to this day.