The Arab-Israeli Wars
Explore the Arab-Israeli wars — the series of conflicts from 1948 to 1973 that shaped the modern Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
The Arab-Israeli wars — fought in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973 — were among the most consequential conflicts of the postwar era, shaping the borders, politics, and psychology of the entire Middle East. Each war reflected broader Cold War dynamics, regional power struggles, and the unresolved tensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The 1948 War of Independence (or Nakba — 'catastrophe' — for Palestinians) followed Israel's declaration of statehood and the invasion by five Arab armies. Israel survived and expanded beyond the UN partition boundaries, while approximately 700,000 Palestinians were displaced. The 1967 Six-Day War saw Israel capture the Sinai, Gaza, West Bank, and Golan Heights in a stunning military victory that tripled its territory — creating an occupation that persists in the West Bank.
The 1973 Yom Kippur War, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack during the Jewish holy day, shook Israeli confidence and demonstrated that military superiority alone could not guarantee security. It ultimately led to the Camp David Accords (1978) and the Egypt-Israel peace treaty — the first between Israel and an Arab state. The wars created the geopolitical landscape of the modern Middle East, including the Palestinian refugee question, the occupation debate, and the complex security architecture that persists today.