If the Jews could hang on through the tough early months, he thought, they would grow considerably stronger while their opponents might well become weaker. And so it proved to be.
A barricaded street during the Israeli War of Independence in 1948. Universal History Archive/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images.
Martin Kramer, brilliant historian that he is, has described compellingly how David Ben-Gurion used the crisis of May 1948 to establish civilian control over the future Israel Defense Forces (IDF); it was not the least of his gifts to the new state.
More about: 1948, David Ben-Gurion, Haganah, IDF, Israel & Zionism, Israeli War of Independence
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