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David Ben-Gurion declares Israel an independent state and establishes a provisio
Featured Event 1948 Event

May 14

Israel Declares Independence: State Born Amidst Arab War

David Ben-Gurion declares Israel an independent state and establishes a provisional government, prompting immediate invasion by neighboring Arab armies that ignites the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. This conflict reshapes the political map of the Middle East, creating a refugee crisis and establishing borders that define the region's geopolitical struggles for decades to come.

May 14, 1948

78 years ago

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What Else Happened on May 14

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