BBC - Empire Warriors (2010) Part 2 The Jewish War

Empire Warriors

As the Union Jack finally descended on former colonies all over the world after the Second World War, Communist, Nationalist and religious guerrilla forces saw their chance. The British Empire was leaving a dangerous power vacuum in its place. The war to succeed the British had begun.

Part 2: The Jewish War

On 22nd July 1946, in British-administered Palestine, Jewish guerillas bombed the King David Hotel killing 91 people. Britain told the United Nations it was ending the Palestine mandate and handed the problem to the United Nations. The Arab states and the Arabs of Palestine rejected the U.N. partition, feeling that all the land was theirs. The Jews accepted the plan and on May 14, 1948, led by David Ben-Gurion, declared statehood for Israel. U.S. President Truman recognized Israel immediately, followed shortly after by the Soviet Union. Israel was attacked the next day by the Arab states and Palestinians. What followed was the first major Middle East war over the conflicting national aspirations of the Jews and Palestinians.