Israel's path to nationhood culminated in 1948 after years of Jewish immigration to Palestine, particularly after World War II and the Holocaust. With growing international support for a Jewish homeland, the United Nations proposed a partition plan in 1947. Although regional opposition was intense, the Jewish community accepted the plan. Upon the expiration of the British Mandate in 1948, Israel declared independence, leading to a war with neighboring Arab states. This early victory and subsequent diplomatic recognition by many countries secured Israel’s place as a new state. Since then, Israel has developed rapidly, balancing innovation, immigration, and cultural revival while addressing security challenges.