How was Israel Created? – A timeline of Palestine

1878: Ottoman Census of the Palestine Region (including districts of Jerusalem, Nablus and Acre) indicate the population as:

Muslim: 403,795

Christian: 43,659

Jewish: 15,001

1882: The first wave of Jewish emigration to Palestine known as “The First Aliyah” or the “Agricultural Aliyah” begins. It is estimated that 25,000-35,000 Jews would migrate between 1882 and 1903. Although the first Zionist colony was established in 1878 in Petah Tikvah (near Jaffa) it was soon abandoned owing to outbreak of disease.

1517: Palestine falls under Ottoman Rule from the Mamluks. Total population of Palestine is approx. 300,000 (295,000 Arab, 5000 Jewish)

A Jewish nationalist movement known as “Zionism” begin work to achieve its goal of creating a Jewish national home in Palestine. The founding father of the political wheel of this movement is an Austrian journalist named Theodore Herzl. In 1896, Herzl wrote the book Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State) in which he sets out the need of a Jewish State in either Argentina or Palestine.

1892: Ottoman government places a ban on sale of private land to any Jew, whether an Ottoman citizen or otherwise. But pressure from European powers brings a change in government policy and they permit foreign Jews living legally in Palestine to acquire land.

1897: Herzl organises the 1^st Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland. The movement set out its key objective: “Zionism strives to create for the Jewish people a home in Palestine secured by public law.”

1901: The Zionist Congress would gather yearly until 1901. In the same year, Herzl meets with the Ottoman ruler, Sultan Abdul Hamid II. Herzl offers assistance in paying the vast debt of the Ottoman Empire in exchange for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Although Sultan Abdul II agrees to Jewish settlement in Ottoman territory, he refuses to sell Palestine saying: “I cannot sell even a foot of land, for it does not belong to me, but to my people”. In the same year, Herzl establishes the “Jewish National Fund”, with the intention of using the funds collected to buy and develop land in Palestine.

1903: Sympathy for the Zionist cause gains support in the United Kingdom. The British government offers an uninhabited area of Uganda, totalling 6000 square miles (approx. 15,500 square km) for a new Jewish homeland. Despite initially gaining favour amongst some Zionists, this plan is later rejected at the Seventh Zionist Congress in 1905.

1904-1905: Theodore Herzl dies in 1904. “The Second Aliyah”, begins (1904-1914), which would see approximately 35,000 Jews immigrating to Palestine, mainly from Russia and Poland. The rate of migration further increases in 1905 after the failed Russian revolution sees a surge in pogroms across the Russian empire.

1907: The Ottoman Governor of Jerusalem warns the Ottoman authorities that Zionists are evading immigration and land acquisition laws in place.

1908: March: A fight breaks out between Arab and Jewish youths in Jaffa, injuring 15. This is the first urban disturbance between Arabs and Jews in Palestine, with previous disputes confined to rural areas over land dispute.

1914: By the time WWI begins, there are approx. 80,000 Jews living in Palestine, many of whom are financially dependent on Edmond James de Rothschild, a member of the Rothschild banking family. In the backdrop of the war, two prominent Zionists, Chaim Weizmann and Nahum Sokolow, begin work to acquire British support for their cause.

1915: Over the years the relationship between Sharif Hussein Ali, the custodian of the two Holy Sites [Makkah and Madinah] and the Ottoman leadership becomes strained owing to a number of factors. Since the Ottomans had joined the war on the side of the Central Powers, having an ally force in the Middle East would be beneficial. Capitalising on this breakdown of relations, Britain asked Sharif Hussein to side with the allies and revolt against the Ottomans. In return, Sharif Hussein is promised an independent Arab state and him as the king. From 1915-1916, a series of 10 letters would be exchanged between Sharif Hussein and Sir Henry McMahon, the British High Commissioner to Egypt.

1916: With assurances from the British government for an independent Arab state, Sharif Hussein announces his rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in June. However, in May – one month earlier – a secret meeting had already taken place between Britain and France known as the “Sykes-Picot Agreement”, which decided how the territories belonging to the Ottomans would be divided after the war. Palestine was among the territories to be divided and would later come under the British Mandate.

1917: 2 November. The British Foreign Secretary, Arthur James Balfour, sends a letter to Lionel Walter Rothschild, a leading Zionist and member of the Rothschild family, containing a promise by Great Britain to support a Jewish homeland in Palestine, stating: “His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object…” This famous letter is known in history as the Balfour Declaration. A very important aspect of the letter reads: “…nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine”. Palestine is captured by British forces in December.

1919: “The Third Aliyah” begins which would see a further 40,000 Jews immigrate to Palestine. This migration was accelerated by the Russian revolution towards the end of World War I. Meanwhile, Zionists begin to spend heavily on developing rural areas of Palestine to ingrain Jewish culture and the Hebrew language.

1920: In February, Palestinians take to the streets of Jerusalem to protest against the rising number of Jewish settlers. When the Chief Administrator of Palestine, General Louis Bols, announces that the Balfour Declaration would be enforced, approx. 1500 Palestinians take to the streets of Jerusalem in protest.

In April, the allied nations meet at a “Peace Conference” in Italy to decide on how to distribute the Ottoman territories. The Ottoman region of Syria (current day Syria and Lebanon) was mandated to France, southern Syria (Palestine) and Mesopotamia (Iraq) were given to Great Britain as a mandate.

Meanwhile, the Yishuv (i.e. the Jewish residents of Palestine before the formation of Israel) establish their own assembly, schools, labour union (Histadrut), courts etc. They also form a paramilitary militia group known as the “Haganah”.

1921: Owing to the rise in Jewish Immigration and land purchases, in May, anti-Zionist riots break out in Jaffa, which result in over 100 deaths (47 Jews, 68 Arabs). Owing to these unrests, an Arab delegation comprising of prominent dignitaries visit London in August to demand the Balfour declaration be scrapped, and in its place a democratic government to be installed, elected by all citizens of Palestine, Muslim, Christian and Jews.

Contrary to Zionist wishes, Transjordan (later known as Jordan), which amounted to ¾ of the land under the Palestinian mandate is separated. Abdullah, son of Hussein bin Ali, is appointed as its ruler. Britain appoint Amin al-Husseini as the grand Mufti of Jerusalem.

1922: Surprised and somewhat cautious of the demands of the Arab delegation, in June, Britain issues the famous “White Paper”, made up of nine documents which state: “Great Britain did not contemplate that Palestine as a whole should be converted into a Jewish National Home, but that such a Home should be founded in Palestine.” But another one of these documents outlines Britain’s intent to uphold the 1917 Balfour Declaration. In July, the League of Nations officially approves the Mandate for Palestine, which would ensure Balfour Declaration comes to fruition.

1923: A Russian author and founder of the “Revisionist Zionist” movement, Vlamidir Jabotinski, writes his famous book called The Iron Wall (We and the Arabs) in which he argues that Palestine can only be taken by force and without taking into account the wishes of the native population. But in order to fulfil this goal it would have to work behind a foreign power – hence the name “Iron Wall”. Revisionist Zionists would later form a military division (1931) called “Irgun Zvai Leumi” (also known as “Irgun”).

1924: The “Fourth Aliyah” commences. This sees over 80,000 Jews immigrating to Palestine between 1924-1928.

1927: The Zionist Labour Union, “Histadrut”, begins a discriminatory campaign against Palestinian labourers. This picketing campaign even boycotts Jewish businesses who continued to employ Palestinians. This extends to the rural areas and agricultural settlements as well as in developing urban areas where Jewish businesses employ Palestinians in construction work etc.

1929: The “Fifth Aliyah” commences and continues until the start of World War 2 in 1939. In August, a number of deadly clashes take place, known as “The Palestine Riots” or “The Western Wall Riots”, between Jewish communities and Arabs over the holy sites in Jerusalem. This includes the deadly Hebron Massacre in which 67 Jews were killed. Weeks of rioting saw the deaths of nearly 250 people (approx. 130 Jews and 120 Arabs) with hundreds wounded. The “Jewish Agency” is formed by the Zionists to facilitate Jewish immigration to Palestine.

1930: The British government order an enquiry, headed by Sir John Hope Simpson, into the reasons for the bloodshed and civil unrest of the previous year. After reviewing the situation and also an earlier investigation (the Shaw Commission), the report concludes that owing to Jewish immigration, 30% of Palestinians were without land, and that unemployment amongst Palestinians was rising due to the Jewish boycott of Arab labour. It recommended curtailing Jewish immigration and purchase of Land. This leads the government to issue the “Passfield White Paper” in October, which states that Britain would prioritise certain obligations to the Arab population, including a curb on Jewish immigration to Palestine as well as who can purchase land.

1931: The “Passfield White Paper” incenses the Zionist movement as it deemed it a threat to their fundamental goal for a national home in Palestine, resulting in mass Zionist protests throughout London. This pressures the then Prime Minister, Ramsay Macdonald to send a letter to Zionist leader, Chaim Weizmann, in February, which effectively rejects the “Passfield White Paper” and confirms a return to the “1922 White Paper” agreement.

In December, delegates from 22 Muslim countries gather in Jerusalem known as the World Islamic Congress. Organised by Amin al-Husseini, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Shaukat Ali, leader of the Indian Caliphate Committee, the purpose of the gathering is to deliberate on the growing Palestine issue and warn against the increasing influence of Zionism.

1933: In January, is Hitler appointed as Chancellor of Germany. Nazi persecution sees a significant rise in Jewish immigration to Palestine from Germany, Central and Eastern Europe.

1935: In November, the Arab political parties issue a boycott of Zionist and British products. They demand an end to Jewish Immigration and land purchases. The economic boycott of the Palestinians, rising Jewish immigration, land purchases and a stark number of Palestinian unemployment are some of the factors that contribute to The Arab Revolt (1936-1939). One of the sparks of this revolt was the killing of Sheikh Izz al-Din al-Qassam, a Syrian Muslim preacher, who was the head of a resistance movement in Palestine. He is ambushed and killed in a shootout against British troops in November.

1936-1939: The Arab revolt starts in 1936 and lasts for approximately three years. Armed clashes between Arab militia groups and the British-backed Zionist militia groups resulted in the deaths of 5000 Arabs, 15,000 were wounded and 5600 imprisoned. 415 Jews were killed in the same period.

This era can be divided into three phases.

Fuelled by the killing of their leader, followers of al-Qassam attacked convoys between Nablus and Tulkram, in which two Jews were killed. They also announced strikes in Nablus and Jaffa. In retaliation, the Zionist militia group, the Irgun kill two Palestinian workers in Peta Tikva.

The “Arab Higher Committee” (AHC) is formed, headed by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Amin al-Husseini. This committee calls for a general strike from April-October 1936, not to pay taxes, shut-down of municipal governments and re-iterates many of the demands made by the Arab political parties namely: an end to Jewish immigration, a ban on sale of land and Arab independence. Violent clashes erupted between Palestinians, the British and Zionists which resulted in Britain sending 20,000 soldiers to Palestine.

In October, Britain appoints Lord Robert Peel to investigate the causes of the strike action and the violence that ensued. Owing to the financial strain of the 6-month long strike and pressure by other Arab heads of state, the AHC call off the strike and meet with the Peel Commission.

In July 1937, the commission reported that the cause of the disturbances was Arab demand for independence and their growing fear of the possibility of a Jewish national home in Palestine. The committee recommends the partition of Palestine into a Jewish State and an Arab state, and for Britain to retain control of Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem. The suggestion includes forcible transfer of Palestinians out of the proposed Jewish state. The Zionists were initially luke-warm to the proposal. Although it was not what they had hoped for, the proposed borders of the peel commission were significantly more than the Jewish settlements at that time.

In August 1937, the 20^th Zionist congress convenes in Zurich, Switzerland. In the conference the Zionists are split over the Peel Commission, some seeing it as a betrayal of what was promised in the Balfour Declaration, whereas others, including leader Chaim Weizmann, urge the members to accept the decision of the Peel Commission. The Arab Higher Committee (AHC) rejects the proposal of the Peel Commission which increases violent clashes between the Arab armed militias (Black Hand) and the Zionist militias (Haganah and Irgun). These disturbances cause the British to impose a Martial Law in September 1937. Stringent measures were put in place to quash the growing rebellion. The AHC is dissolved and leading officials of the organisation were either arrested or exiled. The Grand Mufti Amin al-Husseini escapes to Lebanon.

In November 1938, another commission is sent by Britain, headed by Sir John Woodhead, to assess the plausibility of the partition outlined in the Peel Commission. It concludes that the division according to the Peel Commission is not feasible, especially since the number of Arabs in the Jewish state would near enough equal the Jewish population. The Peel Commission suggests to significantly reduce the Jewish state and to limit the sovereignty of both states, which in effect nullifies the Peel Commission. This was rejected by both sides.

In a last ditch effort to resolve the issue, Britain orders both Arab and Jewish delegates to meet in London for a conference known as the “Round Table Conference” (between February-March 1939). On 11^th March, Muslim delegates attending the Round Table Conference are invited to meet at the Fazl Mosque in London, where a message of support by the Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Community is read out.

With the possibility of a war looming in Europe, Britain knows that it will not be able to keep troops in Palestine for long. Similarly, it is unfavourable to fuel further Arab hostilities in Palestine and the region. Therefore, in May 1939, Britain issues a new “White Paper” which states that since more than 450,000 Jews have settled in Palestine, Britain has fulfilled its obligations of forming a Jewish national home as set out in the Balfour Declaration. It outlines that in the next five years, 75,000 Jews would be permitted to migrate to Palestine, and any subsequent Jewish immigration would be subject to the approval of the Arabs, as well as placing restrictions on land sale. A significant part of the “White Paper” is that an independent state of Palestine would be formed within ten years.

The Zionists outright reject the “White Paper” as it was a major setback in to their goal of a separate Jewish homeland and issues a general strike in Palestine on 18^th May.  Although the proposal was in favour of the Arab cause, they also initially reject it as they deeply mistrust the British, owing to the policies adopted in the earlier two decades. Furthermore, the Arabs are opposed to one particular clause in the proposal that allows room for Britain to further the mandate beyond the 10 year period. However, a year later, Arab delegates agreed to the proposal and signed the declaration in London.

Refusing to accept the terms of the “White Paper”, the Zionists use the backdrop of the war to continue illegal Jewish immigration to Palestine through the Zionist militia group, the Irgun, and later on with help of the “Lehi” or “Stern Gang”, a breakoff splinter group from the Irgun. It is during this time that David Ben-Gurion (later first prime minister of Israel) says the famous words: “We shall fight [beside Great Britain in] this war as if there was no White Paper and we shall fight the White Paper as if there was no war.”

In November, a ship (SS Patria) carrying almost 2000 Jewish illegal immigrants – who were being deported to Mauritius by the British Government – explodes at the Haifa harbour, killing 267 people. It was later discovered that the explosion was caused by the Zionist militia group, the Haganah, who miscalculated the levels of explosives, intending only to “damage” the ship to stop the deportation.

1941: In November, whilst the Germans were advancing deeper into USSR and reached the outskirts of Moscow, Amin al-Husseini travelled to Germany to meet Adolf Hitler. Al-Husseini wanted assurances from the German government that they would assist him in stopping Palestine becoming a Jewish National home. He initiated the conversation by reiterating that the Arabs and the Germans had common enemies, namely the British and the Jews. Even though Al-Husseini was confident that he would get support of the Arab countries, in reality, majority of the Arab countries supported the Allies, with some 23,000 Arabs enlisting in the British Army.

Ben-Gurion’s activism gains considerable support in USA. In May, a Zionist conference is held in New York City at the Biltmore Hotel. The conference rejects “The White Paper of 1939”, demanded for unrestricted Jewish immigration to Palestine and for it to become a Jewish Commonwealth State. Two leading Zionists, Ben-Gurion and Chaim Weizmann, disagree regarding specification of the Jewish state, with the former pushing for all of Palestine to become a Jewish state, whereas the latter was content with a partition in accordance with the Peel Commission.

In December, The British government under Winston Churchill recommend for Palestine to be partitioned. Churchill orders his War Cabinet Committee to look into other options besides “The White Paper of 1939” as the Zionists from UK and USA have actively campaigned against it.

The Zionist militia groups Stern Gang and Irgun join forces in a revolt against the British. Between February and March, 10 British police officers are shot dead by them in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

October: Heads of five Arab countries (Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Transjordan) meet in Alexandria to discuss the issue of Palestine. They express sympathies at the plight of the Jews fleeing from the horrors suffered in Europe, but also reject Zionist aspirations.

November: The Stern Gang assassinate the British Minister of State in Cairo, Lord Walter Moyne, deeming him responsible for the stringent Jewish Immigration policy.

January: The US House of Representatives outlines US policy to enable unrestricted Jewish Immigration to Palestine and support a Jewish commonwealth.

March: The “Arab League” is formed to promote inter-Arab co-operation and forge stronger ties between the member states, which initially are: Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Transjordan and Syria, with Yemen joining in May.

August: USA directly intervenes in the Palestine issue when President Harry Truman asks British counterpart, Clement Attlee, to allow 100,000 Jews to migrate to Palestine.

October: The Haganah, Irgun and Lehi (Zionist militia groups) unite to form the Jewish Resistance Movement and begin a wave of anti-British attacks intended to weaken British authority in Palestine.

November: British Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin announces a commission to assess the economic, social and political situation in Palestine known as the “Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry”.

May: The Arab League holds the first summit in Egypt to discuss the independence of Palestine and the formation of a government.

June: The Haganah launches “The Night of the Bridges” operation, named because they destroyed several key bridges and railway links from Palestine to neighbouring countries to stop the British Army receiving supplies. In response the British launch “Operation Agatha” in which over 2000 Zionist officials and members of the militia groups (Haganah, Stern Gang and Irgun) are arrested for the violence. The Haganah then turn their attentions to increasing illegal immigration to Palestine. The Arab League convene in Syria to warn of the continuing disregard of Palestinian rights by Britain and USA. They establish a new Arab Higher Committee (AHC), chaired by Amin al-Husseini.

July: Responding to Operation Agatha, the Irgun bomb the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, killing 91 people (28 British, 41 Arabs, 17 Jewish, 5 other nationals).

September: Britain organises a Round Table conference on the Palestine issue. However, only the Arab representatives were present as both Palestinian and Zionist officials refuse to attend. In the meeting the Arabs draft a provisional constitution which include plans for an independent Palestine, an end of the British Mandate and for a government to be formed based on the population distribution of the Arabs and Jews. With no Palestinian and Zionist representatives present, the meeting is postponed. Between September-December, the Irgun carry out several violent attacks against British policemen and military personnel killing 19.

December: The 22^nd Zionist Congress convenes in Basel. Members push for Palestine to be made into a Jewish state and reject the partition plans made by the British. They also speak warmly of the growing ties between the Zionists and USA.

January: The Irgun plants a bomb in the British Administrative Headquarters at Haifa, killing 4 people (2 British, 2 Palestinian). The postponed Round Table conference from the previous year takes place with Arab delegations, joined this time by Palestinian representatives. The British present a plan for partition known as the “Morrison-Grady Plan”. Both Zionists and Palestinians reject the proposal, as each group want an independent state.

February: Having failed to reach any conclusion, Britain announces that the Palestine issue would be submitted to the newly formed United Nations. Between February-March, 20 British security officials are killed by Zionist militia groups.

April-May: United Nations General Assembly hold a special session for the Palestinian issue. Henry Cattan, a Palestinian Lawyer, presents the Arab case on behalf of the Arab Higher Committee (AHC). The United Nations forms UNSCOP (United Nations Special Committee on Palestine) to propose a solution to the entire issue. Two Palestinians are killed by the Haganah (Zionist militia group) near Tel Aviv.

June: UNSCOP members arrive in Palestine and meet Zionist officials. The AHC boycott the meetings on the basis that they believed Palestine belonged to the native Arabs living there for centuries and that their given rights had been constantly ignored by the international community. The Stern Gang (Zionist militia group) send letter bombs to London targeting British officials.

August: UNSCOP propose to divide Palestine into an Arab state and a Jewish state, with Jerusalem and its surrounding area to be governed internationally. The Haganah attack an orange farmer near Tel Aviv, killing 12 Palestinians, including a woman and six of her children.

28^th November: Zafrullah Khan, first Foreign Minister of the newly formed state of Pakistan, delivers a detailed address before the UN General Assembly, scrutinising every aspect of the proposed division by the UN and highlighting the gross inequality of the proposal which completely favoured the Jewish state in land size, produce and overall resources.

29^th November: The UN passes “Resolution 181” to divide Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state, with Jerusalem to be governed internationally. Under the UN division, 55.5% of Palestinian land is allotted to the Jewish state and 44.5% to the Arab state. The Arab state would have a Jewish minority population of 1%, however, the Palestinians will account for 47% of the population in the proposed Jewish state. The UN proposal is voted with a two-third majority, including both USA and Soviet Union in favour of the division. The Zionists welcome the decision, but the Arabs vehemently reject it and put their case to the International Court of Justice, questioning the legitimacy of how the UN can partition a country against the wishes of the majority of the native population. This triggers a civil war between Arabs and Zionist militias resulting in deaths of countless Palestinian and Jewish civilians.

December: Palestinians declare a three day strike in opposition to the UN partition plan. The Irgun and Haganah (Zionist militia groups) launch violent attacks on Palestinian villages throughout the country. In the entire month, 59 Palestinians and 41 Jews are killed. The Haganah implement “Plan Gimmel”, where they take up strategic positions throughout Palestine. Every Jewish male aged 17-25 called up to serve in the armed militia group. Declaring the partition to be illegal, the Arab League gather in Cairo pledging 3000 volunteers, 10,000 rifles and £1,000,000 for the Palestinian cause.

January: The Arab Liberation Army (ALA) formed by the Arab league to help the Palestinians form a resistance against partition. A surge of violence erupts between Arabs and Jews. The Haganah and Irgun attack Palestinian villages, plant car bombs and destroy several hotels, resulting in the deaths of 61 Arabs. The ALA plant a bomb in a Post Office in Haifa resulting in deaths of six Jews.

14^th January: The Haganah sign an arms deal with Czechoslovakia for rifles, machine guns and ammunition.

February: The Haganah continues raids on Palestinian villages. In this month 17 Palestinians are killed and thousands forcibly evicted from their homes in the villages south of Haifa. Prime Minister of Transjordan, Tawfiq Abu al-Huda, and British Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin, secretly meet and agree that the Jordanian army will enter Palestine when the British Mandate ends to maintain law and order. This was conditional on the army not entering the Jewish state boundaries as designated by the UN.

March: Continued armed conflict between the Haganah and ALA leads to civilian and military causalities; 52 Palestinian civilian deaths, 12 Jewish civilian deaths, and the deaths of 126 Haganah members. USA calls for a truce between the Jewish Agency and AHC, and for the matter to be discussed further by the UN General Assembly. The Arabs agree to the truce, but is rejected by David Ben-Gurion, stating that the Jewish state will not be formed owing to the UN resolution, but by the might of the Jewish military.

April: “Plan Dalet” launched by the Haganah in order to gain control of all the areas of the Jewish state as well as control of the Jewish settlements around Palestine, regardless of which state they fall in. This operation aimed to destroy vast Palestinian settlements and removal of its inhabitants.

On 9^th April, The Irgun and Stern Gang raid the Deir Yassin village, situated to the west of Jerusalem. Victims who survive the massacre say that people were hung from trees and burned, including women, children and elderly. The number of deaths is disputed but a British report to the UN puts the death toll at 250 Arab men, women and children. Palestinians in and around the region begin to flee.

Between 1947-1949, almost 15,000 Palestinians are killed and some 750,000 expelled from their homeland, known famously as “Al-Nakba” meaning “the Catastrophe”.

13^th May: Thousands of local Arabs attack a Jewish kibbutz called Kfar Etzion, situated between Jerusalem and Hebron. In total the massacre kills 127 Jews (21 women and a number of Irgun/Haganah fighters)

14^th May: British Mandate of Palestine ends. General Sir Alan Cunningham, the last British High Commissioner leaves Palestine. On the same day, the State of Israel is announced, immediately recognised by USA and the Soviet Union.

15^th May: Israel declares independence, triggering the Arab-Israeli War, in which Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon enter Israel. The fighting would continue until April 1949, when the Arab states and Israel agree to an armistice.