Arab Israeli
Explain the causes, course and consequences of the 1947 - 1949 War. (25 marks)
The 1947 – 1949 War was the first war of the ongoing Arab-Israeli Conflict. The war is known to the Israelis as The War of Independence while the Palestinians call it the Catastrophe. The war came about as a result of the end of the British Mandate and the introduction of Resolution 181. The war involved a number of Arab states fighting on behalf of the Palestinians against the Israelis who were widely viewed as the underdogs. The outcome of the war was an overwhelming victory by the Israeli who not only managed to defend their own boundaries but also gained much of the territory granted to Palestine.
One of the major causes of the war was Resolution 181 which was the United Nations partition of Palestine. The partition was a major cause of the Arab declaration of war on Israel in 1948. Palestinians, and Arabs were greatly unhappy with the partition plan because they believed that the Palestinians should not have to pay for the crimes of World War II and that the partition was unfairly slanted against the Palestinians. By the end of the mandate, Jewish people made up half of the population of Palestine, however they were given twice as much land as was granted to the Palestinians. The land was also more arable and contained the larger, more economically viable cities. This led to the breakout of war as the Palestinians planned to gain more land of the unstable Israeli government at the conclusion of the mandate. The Arabs believed Israel would be an easy target because it was not politically, economically or militarily established.
The introduction of Israel’s Plan Dalet in April 1948 was also a cause of the 1947 – 1949 War. The Israeli Haganah plan aimed to clear the land allocated for the Israeli state of all Arab communities before the end of the mandate. Some Israeli historians claim this plan was completely defensive and necessary in ensuring the creation of the state of Israel.
The 1947 – 1949 War was the first war of the ongoing Arab-Israeli Conflict. The war is known to the Israelis as The War of Independence while the Palestinians call it the Catastrophe. The war came about as a result of the end of the British Mandate and the introduction of Resolution 181. The war involved a number of Arab states fighting on behalf of the Palestinians against the Israelis who were widely viewed as the underdogs. The outcome of the war was an overwhelming victory by the Israeli who not only managed to defend their own boundaries but also gained much of the territory granted to Palestine.
One of the major causes of the war was Resolution 181 which was the United Nations partition of Palestine. The partition was a major cause of the Arab declaration of war on Israel in 1948. Palestinians, and Arabs were greatly unhappy with the partition plan because they believed that the Palestinians should not have to pay for the crimes of World War II and that the partition was unfairly slanted against the Palestinians. By the end of the mandate, Jewish people made up half of the population of Palestine, however they were given twice as much land as was granted to the Palestinians. The land was also more arable and contained the larger, more economically viable cities. This led to the breakout of war as the Palestinians planned to gain more land of the unstable Israeli government at the conclusion of the mandate. The Arabs believed Israel would be an easy target because it was not politically, economically or militarily established.
The introduction of Israel’s Plan Dalet in April 1948 was also a cause of the 1947 – 1949 War. The Israeli Haganah plan aimed to clear the land allocated for the Israeli state of all Arab communities before the end of the mandate. Some Israeli historians claim this plan was completely defensive and necessary in ensuring the creation of the state of Israel.