Israel was officially created on May 14, 1948, when David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. This momentous declaration marked the culmination of decades of the Zionist movement's efforts to establish a Jewish homeland in response to centuries of persecution and diaspora. The creation of Israel was also a pivotal outcome of the United Nations Partition Plan of 1947, which sought to address the conflicting national aspirations of Jews and Arabs in Palestine by proposing a two-state solution. Following the proclamation of independence, neighboring Arab states immediately invaded, leading to the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. This conflict resulted in significant territorial changes and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, an event known as the Nakba, or catastrophe. The founding of Israel thus not only represented a triumphant moment for Jewish national identity but also laid the groundwork for ongoing conflicts and complexities that continue to shape the region today. The establishment of Israel is commemorated annually on Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day), celebrating the enduring significance of this historic event in Jewish and global history.