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History Today: When the State of Israel was formed 77 years ago
The pronouncement of the State of Israel was made in close proximity to the official expiration of the British Mandate on May 15. File image/Wikimedia commons
In a historic move on May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence from British rule under the Mandate for Palestine. Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the new country, following which Ben-Gurion assumed the role of Israel's first prime minister.
If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
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On this day in 1796, the first smallpox vaccination was administered by British physician Edward Jenner.
Here is all that took place on this day across the world.
Israel declares statehood
One of the most significant changes in West Asia took place on May 14, 1948, when Israel declared independence from British rule. Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel at the Tel Aviv Museum, thus establishing the first Jewish state in 2,000 years.
The pronouncement was made in close proximity to the official expiration of the British Mandate on May 15. Drawing upon both scriptural narratives and contemporary historical arguments, the declaration referenced the enduring connection of the Jewish people to the land, the profound tragedy of the Holocaust and the aspirations for the establishment of a peaceful and democratic state. Furthermore, it pledged equal rights to all inhabitants, without regard to religion, race or gender.
The United States, under President Truman, quickly recognised the newly formed State of Israel. However, this was immediately followed by a military intervention from neighbouring nations including Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon initiating the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. This conflict lasted over a year leading to significant deaths, displacement and entrenched regional tensions.
The first smallpox vaccination administered
One of the most important discoveries of the 1800s was the creation of smallpox vaccination. May 14, 1796, was a crucial day as the first smallpox vaccination was administered on this day. At that time, smallpox was a virulent disease-causing widespread mortality globally. British physician Edward Jenner carried out the revolutionary medical experiment and created the first vaccine for smallpox. His innovative method established the fundamental principles of modern immunology.
Jenner coined the term 'vaccine' from Latin word 'vacca', meaning a cow. Representational image
Jenner's concept was derived from observing milkmaids who commonly contracted the milder cowpox and seemed to be immune to smallpox. He theorised that exposure to cowpox could provide protection against the more severe virus. To experimentally validate this, Jenner extracted material from cowpox sores on the hand of a milkmaid Sarah Nelmes and introduced it into the arm of James Phipps, an eight-year-old boy.
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Phipps developed mild symptoms but quickly recovered. Several weeks later, Jenner exposed the boy to smallpox but he did not develop the disease. This experiment marked the first documented case of immunity through vaccination. Jenner published his findings in 1798, coining the term 'vaccine' from vacca, the Latin word for cow.
Despite scepticism from some of his contemporaries, Jenner's technique spread rapidly. Governments across Europe and beyond began adopting vaccination programs. In the centuries that followed, vaccination would become a central tool in public health.
This Day, That Year
Skylab, the first US space station, was launched on this day in 1973.
In 1643, four-year-old Louis XIV ascended the throne of France.
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A statement by Saudi's foreign ministry on X condemned 'in the strongest terms … the repeated provocative practices by officials of the Israeli occupation authorities against al-Aqsa mosque. The kingdom affirms that such practices fuel the conflict in the region.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Later, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement in response to Ben Gvir's visit, insisting that 'Israel's policy of maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount has not changed and will not change.' However, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed to 'strengthen' Jewish sovereignty on the Temple Mount. 'Israel's enemies around the world will continue to make decisions against us and demonstrate, and we will strengthen our hold and sovereignty over Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and the Temple Mount forever and ever,' Katz wrote on X. 'On Tisha B'Av, 2,000 years after the destruction of the Second Temple, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount are once again under the sovereignty of the State of Israel.' The Al-Aqsa mosque, also known to Jews as Temple Mount, is considered holy to the Muslims as well as the Jews. File image/Reuters But why the outrage over his visit That's because of the history of this site. The al-Aqsa lies at the heart of Jerusalem's Old City on a hill known to Jews as Har ha-Bayit, or Temple Mount, and to Muslims internationally as al-Haram al-Sharif, or The Noble Sanctuary. Muslims regard the site as the third holiest in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. They believe the site is where Prophet Muhammad led his fellow prophets in prayer during a miraculous night journey, known as the Miraj. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the other hand, Temple Mount, as the Jews call it, is the holiest place in Judaism. According to Jews, it where two ancient Jewish temples once stood – the temple built by King Solomon, which was destroyed by the Babylonians, and the second temple, destroyed by the Romans. Following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, it was decided that Jordan would control matters inside the compound while the external security would be the responsibility of Israel. Furthermore, non-Muslims would be allowed on to the site during visiting hours, but would not be allowed to pray there. Now, herein lies the problem. Israeli forces have stationed guards at the site and permitted Jews to enter the compound, upsetting Muslims. It has also resulted in clashes at the site in the past — with the most recent one being in 2023 when 14 Palestinians were injured after Israeli police officials attacked dozens of worshippers at the religious site's compound. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, Palestinians view visits by Jewish leaders as provocative and as a potential precursor to Israel seizing control over the compound. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has visited the al-Aqsa compound on multiple occasions in the past. However, Sunday's visit was unique as he offered prayers for the first time. File image/Reuters Ben Gvir and al-Aqsa mosque Notably, this isn't the first time that Ben Gvir has run into controversy. The fiery far-right minister has been convicted eight times for offences that include racism and supporting a terrorist organisation. Just last week, he was declared a persona non grata by the Netherlands for reportedly inciting violence against Palestinians, advocating for the expansion of illegal settlements and calling for ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip. He's also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. Moreover, he's known to make fiery and controversial statements at the al-Aqsa mosque site. Last August, he said in an interview that he would build a synagogue at the al-Aqsa compound. 'If I could do anything I wanted, I would put an Israeli flag on the site,' Ben Gvir said in the interview. And when asked several times by a journalist if he would build a synagogue at the site if it were up to him, Ben-Gvir finally replied: 'Yes.' With inputs from agencies
