Israel’s Path to Independence: Overcoming Adversity to Build a Nation

This article is informed by a series of interviews conducted by V24 with a diverse group of experts, including intellectuals, business leaders, politicians, and military experts. Video coming soon.

The Long Journey Home

For over two millennia, the Jewish people wandered without a homeland, enduring persecution and exile. Violent pogroms in Europe and the horrors of the Holocaust devastated Jewish communities. Yet, the hope of returning to their ancestral land remained alive. In 1948, the dream of a Jewish state was realized with the founding of Israel.

A Homeland Promised by the League of Nations

In the aftermath of World War I, the defeat of the Ottoman Empire opened opportunities for the reorganization of territories. The League of Nations granted Britain the mandate over Palestine with the dual objective of establishing a "national home for the Jewish people" and safeguarding the rights of non-Jewish communities. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 had already expressed Britain’s support for this vision, though its execution faced challenges.

According to Israeli intellectual Einat Wilf, "This is a unanimous decision to recognize the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine." For centuries, the region now called Palestine was known as the ancient Jewish homeland - a truth reflected in historical maps and records.

Obstacles Under the British Mandate

Despite international promises, Jewish migration to Palestine met with obstacles. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s 1939 White Paper severely restricted Jewish immigration, even as Europe descended into the horrors of World War II. This policy, designed to appease Arab anti-Zionist sentiment, limited Jewish refugees to 75,000 over five years. A tragic number given the rise of the Nazi regime.

Churchill’s critique of appeasement was echoed by Israeli leaders. Speaker of the Knesset since 2022, Amir Ohana remarked, "You know, Churchill used to say about the appeaser, that they feed the crocodile, hoping that it will eat them last."

The Birth of Modern Israel

By the time World War II ended, six million Jews had been murdered in the Holocaust. Jewish aspirations for a homeland persisted. On May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence. The new nation was met with immediate hostility, as surrounding Arab states declared war. Despite being outnumbered and under-resourced, Israel survived and thrived.

Eli David, leading AI expert, captured the stark contrast of Israel’s beginnings: “In 1948, it was a barren desert with swamps and malaria. How does this place, which had all the geographical characteristics of becoming a perfect, failing third world country, become an advanced, first world country?”

From barren land to a bustling, modern state, the transformation defied expectations. Over decades, Israel gained recognition from key neighbors, starting with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.

The Abraham Accords of 2020 marked another turning point. Countries like the UAE and Bahrain began formalizing relations with Israel, recognizing its strategic importance.

A Symbol of Resistance

Today, Israel stands not only as a testament to Jewish resilience but as a beacon of stability in the Middle East. Amid growing regional threats like Iranian aggression and terrorism, nations increasingly view Israel as an ally in the struggle for peace and prosperity.

As Einat Wilf concludes, “It is globally understood that the Jews are not foreigners, not colonialists, not interlopers. They have a historical, deep, continuous connection with one land and one land only. We call it the land of Israel.”

Israel’s story is one of adversity and perseverance. It proves that even against the greatest odds, rebirth is possible.

Alexandra Audrey Tompson

Journalist | Lawyer (Admitted in New York; England & Wales)