The State of Israel was officially proclaimed on May 14, 1948, by David Ben-Gurion, head of the Jewish Agency, marking a pivotal moment in history. On the same day, the United States, under President Harry S. Truman, swiftly recognized the newly formed nation. This rapid recognition underscored the complex geopolitical landscape and the culmination of decades of international efforts and conflicting interests surrounding Palestine. But to truly understand the creation of Israel, it’s crucial to delve into the “when and why” behind this landmark event.
The seeds of Israel’s creation were sown decades prior, notably with the Balfour Declaration of 1917. This declaration, issued by the British government, expressed support for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” While the United States also leaned towards this objective, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1945, conveyed assurances to Arab nations that the U.S. would not intervene in Palestine without consulting both Jewish and Arab populations. This delicate balancing act was further complicated by Great Britain, which held the mandate for Palestine until May 1948. Britain grappled with opposing pressures: the desire to foster a Jewish national home and the need to maintain stable relations with the Arab world, crucial for protecting their political and economic interests in the region. They resisted both the formation of a Jewish state and an Arab state, and were wary of large-scale Jewish immigration to Palestine.
President Truman, upon assuming office, prioritized the intricate Palestinian question. He initiated studies and, in the summer of 1946, formed a special cabinet committee led by Dr. Henry F. Grady, Assistant Secretary of State. This committee engaged in discussions with a British counterpart to explore Palestine’s future. In May 1946, Truman endorsed the admission of 100,000 displaced persons into Palestine, and by October, he openly declared his support for the creation of a Jewish state. The year 1947 saw the United Nations Special Commission on Palestine (UNSCOP) thoroughly investigate the situation, ultimately recommending the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. This culminated in the United Nations Resolution 181, also known as the Partition Resolution, adopted on November 29, 1947. Resolution 181 proposed dividing British Mandate Palestine into Jewish and Arab states by May 1948, coinciding with the end of the British mandate. Jerusalem and its surroundings were designated as a corpus separatum, an area of religious significance under international control administered by the UN.
Despite the U.S. backing of Resolution 181 at the UN, internal U.S. policy debates persisted. The Department of State advocated for a United Nations trusteeship, suggesting limitations on Jewish immigration and dividing Palestine into provinces rather than independent states. The State Department’s apprehension stemmed from concerns about potential Soviet influence in the Arab world and the risk of Arab oil-producing nations curtailing oil supplies to the United States. As the British withdrawal date approached and tensions escalated between Palestinian Arabs and Jews, the State Department further cautioned against direct U.S. support for a Jewish state, fearing all-out war following the UN partition resolution.
Ultimately, despite the State Department’s reservations and the escalating regional conflict, President Truman made the decisive choice to recognize the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. This decision, made swiftly after Israel’s declaration of independence, cemented the nation’s place on the world stage and reflected a complex interplay of humanitarian concerns, political considerations, and evolving international dynamics in the aftermath of World War II. The creation of Israel was therefore the result of a long historical process, influenced by international agreements, shifting political landscapes, and the determined efforts of Zionist leaders, culminating in the events of May 1948.
