The War That Beat All Odds (Shirelle Maged, High School Intern)
Immediately after the announcement of the independence of the state of Israel in May of 1948, five Arab nations invaded the newly formed country. It is no wonder why then-Prime Minister David Ben Gurion’s first order of business was the formation of the Israeli Defense Forces. Not more than one day had passed since the announcement, and yet the small Israeli population was attacked from all sides by numerous strong forces; Egypt from the south, Lebanon and Syria from the north, and Jordan from the east along with Iraqi and Saudi troops for backup. The Jews at the time only constituted around 20-25% of the population and were therefore not viewed as a formidable threat. Azzam Pasha, an Arab League Secretary, declared it would be “a war of extermination and a momentous massacre” on Cairo radio. There was simply a lack of awareness among Arabs; they did not theorize that an untimely and poorly-executed military campaign could result in losing the war. To Pasha’s credit, the odds did not favour newly-formed Israel. Initially, the Israeli army was inferior in both numbers and weaponry, having only three tanks and no planes, while the invading Arab armies collectively possessed 270 tanks, 300 aircraft and 150 field guns. Yet, the Israeli army ultimately managed to defend themselves on all battle fronts with the exception of East Jerusalem. In addition to this, many of the citizens who were recruited to fight in this war were Holocaust Survivors, victims of one of the greatest autraucities in modern history, only a few years earlier. These people were still in recovery both physically and mentally, and were therefore not considered to be the most preferable candidates to fight for the survival of a brand new state. However, as the state of Israel has consistently proven time and again since its very inception, they are not to be defined by statistics.
Another notable factor that contributed to the defeat was rivalry within the Arab communities themselves. Arab leaders declared a united fight for Palestine, when in truth the warring parties had conflicting goals and interests. While Arab countries, such as Syria, Egypt and Jordan, were fighting the newly formed state of Israel, there was no concrete plan to establish an independent Arab state in the region had they been victorious. Iraq sided with Transjordan and Saudi Arabia supported Egypt’s political goals. Thus, it was unclear who was looking out for the Palestinian Arabs: Furthermore, reports suggest an undisclosed deal between Abdullah, Transjordan’s King, and the Jews in which the king was offered both East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Ultimately, while Jews came together like never before, the lack of unity amongst the Arabs led to their downfall.
The Midrash states that the infamous King David, who was born only 446 years after the Jewish people first entered the land of Israel, was destined to be a stillborn. When Biblical Adam foresaw this, he dedicated 70 years of his own life to let the Psalmist live. When the Israelite army was challenged by the Philistine giant, Goliath, to battle for their nation, David was instructed to stay home to tend his father’s flock. David was a young man with a poetic soul, and was therefore not regarded as a warrior. He was not seen as someone who would be a threat to their opponents. However, King David’s heart was burning with desire to defeat the giant and restore his people’s pride and faith, and his victory crowned him the greatest national hero. Similarly, the objective of Arab nations in 1948 was to eliminate the modern State of Israel immediately following its birth, effectively turning Israel into a “stillborn” nation. The young state, like young David, was not viewed as a legitimate enemy, yet the burning passion for a homeland led them to be victorious in the war, against all odds. Now, in its 72nd year since Independence, the state of Israel has not only survived long enough to live, but has thrived.
