First Arab-Israeli War 1948-49

Question 1

countries involved

Answer 1

Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan

Question 2

Palestinian Arabs

Answer 2

300,000 aided the invading armies

they’d fled during the 1947-8 civil war

Question 3

main focus of fighting

Answer 3

Jerusalem- religious significance for the Jews

Jews gained control of West Jerusalem

Question 4

ceasefire

Answer 4

10 June 1948

Israelis used this to build up their weapons and forces

Question 5

Second phase

Answer 5

Israelis increased their land in the south and around Galilee.
Stern Gang and Irgun incorporated into the IDF

Question 6

Third phase

Answer 6

Israelis drove Egyptians out of the Negev desert

Ceasefire signed in January 1949

Question 7

Impact on Arabs

Answer 7

700,000 refugees

Armistice with Jordan- kept control of the WB and the old city of Jerusalem

Question 8

Impact for Jews

Answer 8

• 6000 died
• now controlled 79% of Palestine
• Armistice with Syria gained recognition of the State of –Israel
• The war helped forge their national image and army

Question 9

armistice

Answer 9

didn’t lead to peace treaties for 30 years

Question 10

unresolved disputes

Answer 10

borders and refugees

Question 11

Arab League

Answer 11

believed Israel had created the problem and that refugees should be able to return or be compensated

Question 12

Israel’s response to refugees

Answer 12

claimed Arabs created the problem by invading Israel and starting a war

Question 13

obstacles to peace

Answer 13

Arabs bitter over defeat

Question 14

Israeli government wanted

Answer 14

• peace with Arab neighbours
• not worth giving up territory for though
• didn’t want to gain large numbers of Palestinian refugees

Question 15

Israel’s priorities

Answer 15

• build a new state
• implement large scale Jewish immigration
• consolidate their new independence

Question 16

Law of Return

Answer 16

1950

• granted any jew the right to become a citizen of Israel
• within four years the population doubled

Question 17

50s and 60s

Answer 17

• became richer and stronger
• areas of desert irrigated and cultivated
• vast sums spent on the army

Question 18

USA aid

Answer 18

US government and American jews sent about a billion dollars a year to Israel