War of Independence
Israel: The Birth of a Nation (Documentary)
Produced by the History Channel, this comprehensive documentary (1.5 hours) chronicles the establishment of the State of Israel by British historian, Sir Martin Gilbert. Using archive film, photographs and interviews,
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
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
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
Israel’s Legal Founding & the War of Independence
Created by PragerU, a Conservative American educational non-profit organization, this video (05:23) shows how the founding of the State of Israel, often accused of being illegitimate, was actually completely legal under international law.