
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Once Israel declared her independence, she was attacked by all of her neighbors. The Hagana, which will become the Israel Defense Forces, mobilized any able-bodied man or woman and this amounted to barely 30,000. The Arabs had significant manpower and far greater firepower and air forces. The Jews had nothing comparable. Lacking defense in depth the Jews could not afford to give ground on any of their four fronts.
But now that the British mandate was over, the Jews were able to import weapons that had previously been forbidden. The greatest Jewish resource was the dedication of their troops, and the talent of their leaders. If Israel was to hang on, she would have to survive the first two weeks.
By Hanoch Teller5
136136 ratings
Once Israel declared her independence, she was attacked by all of her neighbors. The Hagana, which will become the Israel Defense Forces, mobilized any able-bodied man or woman and this amounted to barely 30,000. The Arabs had significant manpower and far greater firepower and air forces. The Jews had nothing comparable. Lacking defense in depth the Jews could not afford to give ground on any of their four fronts.
But now that the British mandate was over, the Jews were able to import weapons that had previously been forbidden. The greatest Jewish resource was the dedication of their troops, and the talent of their leaders. If Israel was to hang on, she would have to survive the first two weeks.

4,327 Listeners

380 Listeners

330 Listeners

987 Listeners

475 Listeners

1,998 Listeners

662 Listeners

27 Listeners

3,196 Listeners

241 Listeners

236 Listeners

8,760 Listeners

1,112 Listeners

327 Listeners

854 Listeners