When did Israel declare independence?

Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948, one day before the British mandate for Palestine officially ended. This declaration fulfilled the Zionist goal of establishing an internationally recognized Jewish state, which was quickly acknowledged by several global powers, including the United States and the Soviet Union.123

Following the declaration, the region saw an immediate escalation in conflict, as the armies of five Arab states—Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Transjordan (now Jordan)—invaded the area. In Israel, this period is remembered as the War of Independence, while in the Arab world, it is referred to as the Nakba ("Catastrophe") due to the widespread displacement of Palestinians that occurred during the fighting.231