The War of Independence

1
The War of Independence

• From the Partition Decision to shaping Israels
  borders
• 1947-1949

2
The war of communities (12/47-4/48)

• The Arabs never accepted the Partition. Attacks
  on roads and Jewish traffic by irregular local
  Arabs.
• The Haganah brings supplies to different places
  with convoys. Shortage of weapons and ammunition.
  
• The Yeshuv is very vulnerable.A lot of
  settlements are isolated. Jerusalem is under
  siege. Neighborhoods in mixed cities and frontier
  areas are attacked.
• An army of Arab volunteers from different
  countries, Arab Liberation Army, invades North
  Palestine (include 4 regiments).
• Jewish convoys are ambushed by Arabs, and their
  passengers killed

3
Plan D creating territorial continuity

• The U.S. government tried to cancel the
  partition. Later on, they suggested that the
  Zionists postpone the declaration of an
  independent state
• The last month of the Mandate, a large Jewish
  military initiative. The purpose to connect all
  the Jewish enclaves.
• Arab forces - local and foreign volunteers -
  cant coordinate their responses.
• Arab Elites leave Palestine. After Dir Yassin
  events, the beginning of a mass exodus

4
The declaration and the invasion

• Regardless of American demand and military risk,
  the state is declared.
• The Jewish state is named Israel
• 5 regular Arab armies invade Palestine.
• The Arabs plan A Blitz directed to Haifa
• The Arabs invitation and the different interests
  of Arab countries

5
The Balance of Power May 15, 1948
Heavy Weapons Israel Arab Forces
Tanks 1 (without a gun) 40
Armored cars with gun 2 200
Armored cars without gun 120 300
Artillery barrels 5 140
Antitank and antiaircraft guns 24 220
Fighter planes 0 74
Patrol planes 28 57
Navy ships 3 12
6
From the invasion to the First truce

• The Egyptians succeed to get as close as 16 miles
  from Tel Aviv and to the Southern outskirts of
  Jerusalem
• Syrian and Lebanese invade the North.
• The Arab legion (Trans-Jordan army) cut the way
  to Jerusalem and capture the Jewish quarter of
  the old city
• Iraqi troops threaten to cut the Jewish state in
  half

7
The Jewish states struggle to survive

• The Syrians and the Lebanese are stopped by local
  forces in Degania and Malkiyah
• After three failed attempts to take Latrun and
  open the way to Jerusalem, a new way is built in
  the mountain the Burma road
• Iraqi troops and Kaukji Army stop their advance
  due to Jewish attacks
• First 5 fighter planes arrived in Israel and
  stopped the Egyptian troops in Isdud
• The Haganah became the IDF (Israel defense
  forces). Etzel and Lehi merge into the new force

8
From truce to armistice

• After 3 and a half weeks, the UN call for a
  monthly truce was accepted.
• Israel organizes its forces.
• From now on the initiative is the hands of
  Israelis.
• The ten days fight and the second truce
• The last stage the Negev and the Galilee are
  annexed to Israel

9
Operation Horev and the creation of Gaza strip
and the West Bank