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Friday, April 25, 2025

The State of Israel Was Established in 1948 by Terror: A Historical Perspective

The founding of the State of Israel in 1948 remains one of the most significant—and most contentious—events in modern Middle Eastern history. For Jewish people around the world, it marked the rebirth of a homeland after centuries of persecution and displacement, especially following the horrors of the Holocaust. For Palestinians and many others, it represented the beginning of a long, painful chapter of dispossession, statelessness, and conflict. At the heart of this narrative lies a critical and controversial truth: the establishment of Israel was accompanied by a campaign of violence, displacement, and in many cases, terror.

This article aims to explore the events surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948, with particular focus on how acts of terrorism and militant activity by Zionist groups played a key role in shaping the early years of the state. The goal is not to demonize, but to provide historical clarity and context for one of the most enduring and complex conflicts of our time.


The Context: British Mandate and the Rise of Zionism

Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, the League of Nations awarded Britain control over Palestine through the Mandate system. During this time, the Zionist movement, which had been growing since the late 19th century, gained momentum with the aim of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Tensions grew between the Jewish immigrants—many of whom were fleeing persecution in Europe—and the Arab population, who had lived in the land for generations. As Jewish immigration increased under British protection, so did Arab resistance, leading to waves of violence between the two communities.


Zionist Militias and the Use of Violence

By the 1940s, several Jewish underground militias had formed, including the Haganah, Irgun (also known as Etzel), and Lehi (also known as the Stern Gang). These groups adopted various strategies to achieve the goal of establishing a Jewish state. While the Haganah was aligned more closely with mainstream Zionist leadership and pursued a relatively moderate policy, Irgun and Lehi engaged in overt acts of terrorism, including bombings, assassinations, and massacres.

1. The King David Hotel Bombing (1946)

One of the most infamous acts attributed to Zionist militias was the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on July 22, 1946. Orchestrated by the Irgun, the attack targeted the British administrative headquarters housed within the hotel. The bombing killed 91 people—British, Arabs, and Jews—and injured many more. It was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks of the time.

Although Irgun claimed it had sent warnings, British authorities and international observers viewed it as an act of indiscriminate terrorism. The attack signaled a shift: Zionist militias were no longer focused solely on defense—they were using terror as a strategic weapon to expel the British and assert dominance over Palestine.

2. The Deir Yassin Massacre (1948)

Arguably the most controversial and painful episode was the massacre at Deir Yassin, a Palestinian village near Jerusalem. On April 9, 1948, Irgun and Lehi fighters attacked the village, killing over 100 civilians, including women and children. While some accounts vary, many historians agree that the killings were brutal and intended to instill fear in the Arab population.

The massacre had a profound psychological effect. News of Deir Yassin spread quickly, contributing to a mass exodus of Palestinians who feared similar attacks. According to historians like Ilan Pappé and Benny Morris, both Israeli and Palestinian sources confirm that the event played a central role in what would later be known as the Nakba ("catastrophe")—the displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians in 1948.


The Nakba: Ethnic Cleansing or Exodus?

The term Nakba refers to the widespread displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. As Jewish forces advanced, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes. Over 400 villages were depopulated or destroyed.

Historians debate whether this was a planned campaign of ethnic cleansing or a byproduct of war. However, recently declassified Israeli documents and testimonies from Israeli soldiers suggest that expulsions were often intentional. Zionist leaders, including David Ben-Gurion, spoke openly about the necessity of transferring Arabs to secure a Jewish-majority state.

While some Palestinians left voluntarily due to the chaos of war, many fled in terror after massacres like Deir Yassin and systematic military operations like Plan Dalet, which authorized the “clearing” of Arab populations in strategic areas.


International Reaction and the Birth of Israel

On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed. The following day, neighboring Arab states invaded, leading to the first Arab-Israeli War. Israel ultimately prevailed, expanding its territory beyond the UN Partition Plan’s original boundaries.

Although the world celebrated the creation of a Jewish homeland, international media and governments often overlooked or downplayed the methods by which it was achieved. Acts that would today be classified as war crimes or terrorism were rationalized as the necessary birth pangs of a new nation.


Legacies of 1948: Conflict, Memory, and Resistance

The legacy of 1948 continues to shape the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For Israelis, the year marks independence, survival, and triumph. For Palestinians, it signifies dispossession, exile, and the beginning of an ongoing struggle for justice and return.

Today, Palestinians still commemorate Nakba Day every May 15, remembering the loss of homes and land. Meanwhile, discussions around terrorism and resistance remain politically and emotionally charged. Acts committed by Zionist militias are rarely framed as terrorism within mainstream Western discourse, yet similar tactics by Palestinians are frequently condemned.

This imbalance in narrative has contributed to a distorted understanding of the conflict—one that often ignores the historical roots of violence and frames Israeli actions as defense and Palestinian resistance as aggression.


Conclusion: Reconciling with Historical Truth

The establishment of Israel in 1948 was not a bloodless diplomatic victory. It was accompanied by a campaign that included organized violence, psychological warfare, and in many cases, acts of terror. Acknowledging this history does not delegitimize the existence of Israel, nor does it deny Jewish suffering. Rather, it provides a fuller, more honest account of the past—one that is essential for any genuine peace process.

If justice, reconciliation, and coexistence are ever to be realized in the region, both sides must confront uncomfortable truths. Only by recognizing the pain and narratives of the other can a foundation for mutual respect and healing be built.


References:

  • Pappé, Ilan. The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. Oneworld Publications, 2006.

  • Morris, Benny. The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem, 1947–1949. Cambridge University Press, 1987.

  • Khalidi, Walid. All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948. Institute for Palestine Studies, 1992.

  • United Nations Archives and the Partition Plan of 1947

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