1948
Haim Hefer: Yes, It’s Possible
This song was originally written as a poem by iconic Israeli poet, Haim Hefer, who served in the Palmach during the War of Independence, during the first truce of the
Statement by the Arab League upon the Declaration of the State of Israel (May 15, 1948)
This post presents the text of the cablegram sent from the Secretary General of the Arab League to the Secretary General of the United Nations following the Declaration of the
Why the Arabs were Defeated in 1948
Published in Al Jazeera, a state-funded Qatari news network, this article explores the different explanations offered by historians for the Arab defeat in the Israeli-Arab War of 1948, known by Israel
The 1948 War Through Arab Eyes
Written by Salman Masalha, a Druze Israeli poet and writer, this article reveals the rhetoric published in Arab newspapers prior to the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, known by Israel as the
Natan Alterman: Elifelet
Performed here by the IDF for Memorial Day, this song, written as a poem by Natan Alterman in 1959 and put to music by Sasha Argov, tells the story of
Letters from Jerusalem: 1947-1948
This link provides a sample of letters that capture the spirit of the new country from the book “Letters from Jerusalem, 1947-1948” by Zipporah Porath, a young American woman who came to
A Detailed Timeline of the War of Independence
From the Zionism-Israel Center advocacy website, this link opens up a thorough chronology of events from November 1947 – September 1949. In addition to information about the many events noted
Clash of Nationalisms: Arabs in Zionist Thought
From My Jewish Learning, this article by Scott Copeland, head of education for Onward Israel, explores the conflict between Jewish and Arab nationalist movements beginning in the late 19th century, as well as
Israel’s War of Independence: Background, Major Battles & Repercussions
This thorough article by Matt Plen,Chief Executive of Masorti Judaism in the UK, provides a relatively balanced overview of the historical background, timeline, major battles and outcomes of Israel’s War of Independence
The 35 Heroes of Gush Etzion (Video & Teachers’ Guide)
This post provides excellent educational resources about the 35 soldiers who were killed during the War of Independence trying to bring supplies to the kibbutzim in the besieged Etzion Bloc