Establishment of the State of Israel: On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, declared the establishment of the State of Israel. This declaration came after the British Mandate for Palestine ended and marked the official birth of the modern State of Israel.
Arab-Israeli War of 1948: Following the declaration of independence, several Arab nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, invaded the newly formed State of Israel, leading to the outbreak of the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. The war lasted until 1949 and resulted in significant territorial changes, with Israel expanding its territory beyond the boundaries of the original UN partition plan.
Exodus of Palestinian Refugees: During and after the war, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were displaced from their homes in what became the State of Israel. This mass exodus, known as the Nakba (Arabic for "catastrophe"), created a large Palestinian refugee population that persists to this day.
Recognition by the International Community: The State of Israel gained international recognition from various countries and organizations around the world. The United States was among the first to recognize Israel, followed by other countries. As more countries recognized Israel, it became a full member of the United Nations in 1949.
Establishment of Jerusalem as the Capital: In 1949, Israel declared Jerusalem as its capital. However, the international community did not recognize West Jerusalem as Israel's capital until after the Six-Day War in 1967, when Israel gained control over East Jerusalem. The status of Jerusalem remains a contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Beginning of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The creation of the State of Israel and the displacement of Palestinians marked the beginning of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Over the years, there have been numerous attempts at peace negotiations, but the conflict persists, with complex historical, political, and religious dimensions.