LEBANON

Israel’s road to Israeli-conquered land that was returned to Lebanon by January 1949.

LEBANESE INDEPENDENCE ARMIES SYRIAN ARMIES

The struggle for statehood is marked by a series SYRIA

GOLAN of conflicts between Jews and Arabs. How ’s Acre HEIGHTS Sea of borders were first formed: Galilee SYRIA

1946 Land ceded by the U.N. The beginning of a new nation by May 14, 1948, when Israel IRAQI ARMIES declared its independence. Great Britain took British Mandate of Palestine control of Palestine in 1917 and made Jewish land several attempts to Arab land Land kept establish a International under Israeli government. By zone Ceded to French War breaks out control after 1946, international Mandate of After months of fighting, a full-scale war Arab armies LEB. Syria in 1921 pressure grew to Mediterranean breaks out on May 15, 1948, less than invaded on finally create a Sea May 15, 1948. 24 hours after Israel declares statehood Herzliya SAUDI Jewish state, which and the British leave Palestine. DETAIL MAP Arabs opposed. BELOW ARMIES

TRANS- KEY 1946 JORDAN Israeli settlements whose The Jewish defenses held on May 15 JORDAN Agency offers a EGYPT Jaffa plan to divide Settlements overrun by Arabs ARMIES on May 15 WEST Palestine, with Ramallah BANK Jerusalem as an Separated in 1921; Areas invaded by Arab international gained independence armies on May 15 zone. in 1946 Attacked Attacked Israeli Mt. Scopus roads settlements Jerusalem 1947 1946 Jewish Agency plan Old The British ask City the United Jewish state LEB. Additional land gained Nations to form Arab state SYR. a government. International Haifa by Israeli Gaza 1947 zone During the war, Arabs flee to Hebron forces by June Nov. 29, 1947 Egypt-controlled Gaza Strip or GAZA 1, 1948. STRIP Dead The United Tel Aviv Jordan-controlled West Bank. Sea Nations unveils its plan, with Mediterranean Rafah Jerusalem as an Sea Jerusalem JORDAN international zone. ARMIES Jews accept it; EGYPTIAN JORDAN Arabs reject it. ARMIES Nirim Negev Nevatim Region Nov. 30- Modern-day boundaries Dec. 11, 1947 EGYPT Sodom JORDAN JORDAN To protest the ARMIES U.N. plan, Arabs attack Jewish settlements. 1947 U.N. partition plan

Dec. 12-31, Jewish state LEB. SYR. Additional land 1947 Arab state Haifa Jewish reprisals International gained by Israeli increase in zone forces between June response to and November 1948. continuing Arab Tel Aviv attacks. In 20 days, EGYPTIAN 126 Jews and Mediterranean ARMIES more than 90 Sea Arabs are killed. Jerusalem Israeli-conquered land Negev Region 1948 January- that was returned to Additional land March 1948 Egypt by January 1949. gained by Israeli Negev forces between Fighting intensi- Region fies. In March, EGYPT November 1948 and Arabs try to block January 1949. JORDAN roads to Jerusalem and attack Jewish transports. About EGYPT 90 Jews and 330 Arabs are killed in the Haifa and Sinai Peninsula Jerusalem areas. April 1-May 14, 1948 Attacks occur almost daily along major roads to Jerusalem in the six weeks before Britain perma- nently withdraws from Palestine. Armed forces in 1948 When the war ends May 14, 1948 While the Arab armies had better equipment and fewer Jews control more land than Jewish leaders declare Israel’s independence in troops, Jewish forces had more experience because many originally ceded in the 1947 proposal. Tel Aviv. of them were World War II veterans. Israel loses about 4,000 soldiers May 15, 1948 COUNTRY ESTIMATED NUMBERS* *Figures reflect initial and 2,000 civilians — about 1 percent The first Arab-Israeli war breaks out when six Arab Israel 35,000 number of troops on of its 650,000 population. May 15. By October, Arab armies invade Israel. A counterattack is mounted Egypt 8,000-10,000 forces grew from about The United Nations estimates within 10 days. Jordan 4,000-5,000 25,000 to 55,000. In more than 725,000 Arabs fled Syria 3,000-4,000 contrast, Israeli forces Palestine between April and Decem- grew to 100,000 and ber 1948. More than 160,000 return to June 11-July 8, 1948 Lebanon 1,000-2,000 included 20,000 to 25,000 their homes by 1949. A truce is signed ending the first war. Fighting Saudi Arabia & Iraq 2,000 or less World War II veterans. ‘49 begins 28 days later.

July 19-Oct. 14,1948 Gulf of SAUDI ARABIA A second three-month truce is mediated by the Aqaba United Nations through Count Folke Bernadotte, who was assassinated in Jerusalem on Sept. 17. By January 1949, Jerusalem is cut in The fight for Jerusalem half, with Arab armies controlling the Oct. 15,1948 In April 1948, Arab armies tried to block the main roads to Jerusalem, isolating the city. eastern portion, including the Old City. Israeli forces launch aggressive attacks to drive out It took Israeli forces eight months to reopen the roads. Israel- the Arab armies and secure borders. HebrewHebrew controlled UniversityUniversity aandnd NationalNational LibraryLibrary Tel Aviv KEY Jordan- January 1949 & Jaffa Attacked road section Israeli settlements controlled Israeli forces open roads to Jerusalem that had Metropolitan areas The Holy Beit Key attacks on No man’s Sepulchre been closed since May 1948. Jews are driven out of Dagan Railroad Israeli settlements land the Old City by Arab forces. Armistice discussions Ben Lydda Shemen Dome of begin with Egypt. Rishon the Rock le Zion Ramallah King David’s Ramla Arabs attack vehicles tomb Feb. 24-July 20, 1949 on the main roads Nebi OLD CITY OF Armistice agreements are signed with Egypt (Feb. JERUSALEM Samuel Israel will 24), Lebanon (March 23), Jordan (April 3) and Syria Mediterranean Sea Biddu Jerusalem Rehovot Beir recapture the (July 20). Iraq withdraws its forces without an Surik Old City during agreement. Hulda the Six Day War Deir in 1967. Saris Deir Israelis used this Ayub Castel Yassin Defenses in Ramat route after road near Rachel stop Arabs Ramla was cut off. Burma Road built SOURCES: The Routledge Atlas of the Arab-Israeli Conflict by Martin approaching from Gilbert, Jewish Virtual Library, GlobalSecurity.org, Sun-Sentinel research after road near Deir Ayub was blocked. Bethlehem Bethlehem 1950 Staff graphic/Belinda Long-Ivey [email protected]