Israel Declares Independence as British Mandate Ends
David Ben-Gurion proclaims the establishment of the State of Israel as British forces complete withdrawal from Palestine.
TEL AVIV - David Ben-Gurion today proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel, reading the Declaration of Independence at a ceremony in Tel Aviv as the British Mandate over Palestine officially ended at midnight.
The declaration came amid escalating violence between Jewish and Arab communities following the UN Partition Plan approved in November 1947. Arab leaders have rejected the partition and vowed to prevent the establishment of a Jewish state.
“The State of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles,” Ben-Gurion declared to assembled leaders at the Tel Aviv Museum. “It will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants.”
Within hours of the declaration, Egyptian planes bombed Tel Aviv, and ground forces from Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq began mobilizing along Israel’s borders. The Arab League has announced its intention to “restore order” in Palestine.
The United States became the first country to recognize Israel, with President Truman announcing recognition just 11 minutes after the proclamation. The Soviet Union is expected to follow suit.
The new state faces immediate existential challenges, with a population of approximately 650,000 Jews facing opposition from neighboring Arab states with a combined population of over 30 million. Military analysts predict a difficult war ahead as Arab armies converge on the nascent state.