Arab States That Fought Israel's Creation (1948)

There was no pre-war coalition with Palestine to block Israel's declaration. Instead, on May 15, 1948 — the day after Israel declared independence — five Arab League armies invaded the former British Mandate territory:

• Egypt
• Transjordan (Jordan)
• Syria
• Lebanon
• Iraq

Saudi Arabia sent a contingent under Egyptian command but did not sign the armistice. Yemen declared war but sent no troops. The All-Palestine Government (Gaza, 1948) had no military capacity.

The war ended in 1949 armistices; Israel held 78% of Mandate Palestine; West Bank (Jordan) and Gaza (Egypt) were occupied until 1967.