Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948, marking the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and the declaration of independence by David Ben-Gurion. This historic moment was the culmination of the Zionist movement's decades-long efforts to establish a Jewish homeland following centuries of diaspora and persecution. The United Nations played a crucial role in this process, proposing a partition plan in 1947 that aimed to create separate Jewish and Arab states in the region, a proposal accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab leaders. Following the declaration of independence, Israel faced immediate military aggression from neighboring Arab states, leading to the Arab-Israeli War of 1948-1949. This conflict not only solidified Israel's status as an independent nation but also resulted in significant territorial changes and the displacement of many Palestinians, shaping the socio-political landscape of the region for decades to come. The establishment of Israel is commemorated annually on Yom Ha'atzmaut, symbolizing both a celebration of Jewish resilience and a reminder of the complex historical narratives surrounding the creation of the state.