Final answer:
Israel's creation in 1948 was driven by the Zionist movement, post-Holocaust international support for a Jewish state, and geopolitical interests during the Cold War. The declaration of independence led to immediate conflict with neighboring Arab states, resulting in an Israeli victory that expanded its borders and displaced many Palestinians.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors that led to the creation of Israel in 1948 are rooted in decades of geopolitical tension, the aftermath of World War II, and Jewish nationalism known as Zionism.
Following the war, the United Nations developed a plan to partition Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state. However, this plan was rejected by the Arab states, leading to conflict.
On May 14, 1948, upon the expiration of the British Mandate for Palestine, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the state of Israel. This declaration was met with immediate war as neighboring Arab nations invaded the newly formed state.
Key factors leading to the independence of Israel include international guilt over the Holocaust, the geopolitical interests of superpowers during the Cold War, and sympathy for the Zionist movement which advocated for a Jewish homeland.
The reluctance of other nations to accept Jewish refugees post-Holocaust also paved the way for support of a Jewish state. Following the war of independence, Israel expanded its territory and a significant number of Palestinians were displaced, many of whom became refugees.
The victory of Israel secured its recognition by major powers, but also set the stage for ongoing conflicts over territory and the rights of Palestinians.