<P> On 15 May 1948 , the ongoing civil war transformed into an inter-state conflict between Israel and the Arab states , following the Israeli Declaration of Independence the previous day . A combined invasion by Egypt , Jordan and Syria , together with expeditionary forces from Iraq , entered Palestine -- Jordan having declared privately to Yishuv emissaries on 2 May that it would abide by a decision not to attack the Jewish state . The invading forces took control of the Arab areas and immediately attacked Israeli forces and several Jewish settlements . The 10 months of fighting , interrupted by several truce periods , took place mostly on the former territory of the British Mandate and for a short time also in the Sinai Peninsula and southern Lebanon . </P>
<P> On 15 May 1948 , the ongoing civil war transformed into an inter-state conflict between Israel and the Arab states , following the Israeli Declaration of Independence the previous day . A combined invasion by Egypt , Jordan and Syria , together with expeditionary forces from Iraq , entered Palestine -- Jordan having declared privately to Yishuv emissaries on 2 May that it would abide by a decision not to attack the Jewish state . The invading forces took control of the Arab areas and immediately attacked Israeli forces and several Jewish settlements . The 10 months of fighting , interrupted by several truce periods , took place mostly on the former territory of the British Mandate and for a short time also in the Sinai Peninsula and southern Lebanon . </P>
how long was the israeli war of independence
how long was the israeli war of independence
10 months
10 months