Israel during the first decade of independence: an introduction

Soon after the Israeli state was established, it faced major challenges. The 1948 war yielded both an Israeli military victory and a massive and yet unresolved Palestinian refugee problem. Security issues remained a major concern long after the war had ended. Mass immigration reshaped the land. Logistical, political, and social challenges had to be met while the new nation was being built. Time and great effort were dedicated to the establishment of state institutions according to the ideology of mamlakhtiyut, or statism. The course traces the impact of Israel's major political struggles, economic hardship and security problems on Israeli society.