ict between the new state of Israel and its Arab neighbors was that both the Jews and the Arabs claimed that Israel/Palestine was their homeland. (Cozic, 32-42) Nationalism was another cause for conflict. Zionism was an ideology and national movement that grew in Europe during the 1800s, proclaiming that all the Jewish people had the right to exist in a safe homeland of their own. (Cozic, 51) Zionism initiated the centuries-old desire of the Jewish people to return to the land of their ancestors. And once the Jews began to settle in the ancient Kingdom of Israel, they were no longer willing to leave. (Silverman, 51-56) The Jews also believed that Israel was their homeland, because Jerusalem had never been the independent home and capital of any other people but the Jews. On May 14, 1948 the state of Israel was established. Less then twenty-four hours later, Israel was invaded by its Arab neighbors: Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq. Now Israel had to fight for its very survival. (Silverman, 87) The War of Independence had begun. For more than fifteen months Israel fought a fierce battle. Israel was poorly equipped and its defense forces were not professional soldiers. However the Israeli forces finally pushed back the invading armies. The price for victory was very high. More than six thousand Israeli men and women died defending their country. On July 18, 1948, the Israelis and Arabs accepted a truce. Nonetheless, this truce was often broken. (Hiro, 127) Arab forces often attacked Israel again and again. Finally the United Nations appointed a mediator to arrange an end to the hostilities. Dr. Ralph Bunch of the United States succeeded in bringing the fighting to an official end in January 1949. (Goldschmidt, 252) By July 1949, the War of Independence was over. Many Arabs living in Palestine became refugees. The Arabs also kicked about 1.3 million Jews living in Arab countries out of their homes. Nearly all of these Jews...
