Israel | History, Foundation, UN Recognition, and Major Wars

Introduction

Israel is one of the most important and discussed countries in modern geopolitics. Located in the Middle East, it has a unique history of creation, international recognition, and conflicts. Understanding why and how Israel was built, its recognized territory, and the wars it has fought helps explain its role in world affairs today.

               

Why and When Was Israel Built?

After centuries of Jewish diaspora and persecution, the Zionist movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries called for a Jewish homeland. Following the horrors of the Holocaust during World War II, global support for establishing a Jewish state grew stronger.

On 14 May 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, declared the independence of the State of Israel. This was just before the end of the British Mandate in Palestine.

David Ben-Gurion

Who Built Israel?

Israel was established by the Zionist leaders and Jewish settlers, supported by international decisions. The most important milestone was the United Nations Partition Plan of 1947 (Resolution 181), which recommended dividing British Mandate Palestine into two states:

• A Jewish state

• An Arab state

• With Jerusalem under international administration

  

•                            Jerusalem city 

Jewish leaders accepted the plan, while Arab leaders rejected it, leading to immediate conflict.

Israel’s Recognized Area by the UN

According to the UN Partition Plan, Israel was originally allocated about 55% of the land of Mandatory Palestine, while 45% was for the Arab state. However, after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Israel expanded its territory to around 78% of the land.

Today, Israel’s internationally recognized area includes:

• Israel proper (within the 1949 Armistice Lines, also called the Green Line)

• With disputes continuing over the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan Heights

Wars Fought by Israel

Since its creation, Israel has fought several major wars and conflicts:

1948 Arab-israel warmap

1. 1948 Arab–Israeli War (War of Independence) – Began right after Israel declared independence; Arab countries attacked.

2. 1956 Suez Crisis – Israel, with Britain and France, attacked Egypt after Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal.

3. 1967 Six-Day War – Israel defeated Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, capturing Gaza, West Bank, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights.

4. 1973 Yom Kippur War – Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack; Israel eventually pushed back.

5. 1982 Lebanon War – Israel invaded Lebanon to expel the PLO.

6. 2006 Lebanon War – Conflict with Hezbollah.

7. Multiple Gaza Conflicts (2008, 2012, 2014, 2021, 2023–present) – Ongoing clashes with Hamas and other groups.

Israel remains at the center of international debate due to its unique history and ongoing conflicts. Built in 1948 as a homeland for the Jewish people, it has expanded beyond the UN’s initial partition plan and fought multiple wars for its survival. Understanding Israel’s origin, area, and wars is essential to grasping the geopolitics of the Middle East today.