How did the state of Israel come into being?

On May 15th 1948 the State of Israel was declared – a day of celebration for Jewish people who’d emigrated to what was now Israel – and a labelled as ‘nabka’ or ‘catastrophe’ in Arabic for Palestinians.

But what were the circumstances that led to that day?

Suzanne’s guest was Jeremy Pressman, a Professor of Political Science and Director of Middle East Studies at the University of Connecticut.

His most recent book is The Sword Is Not Enough: Arabs, Israelis, and the Limits of Military Force.