Military assessments Though the State of Israel faced the formidable armies of neighbouring Arab countries, due to previous battles the Palestinians themselves hardly existed as a military force by the middle of May.Martin Van Creveld,Sword and the Olive: A Critical History of the Israeli Defense Force,, Public Affairs (1998) 2002 p. 75 The British Intelligence and Arab League military reached similar conclusions.Morris (2003), pp. 32–33.
miliTary ASseSsmentS thougH tHe state Of IsraEl fAced tHe foRmidable Armies of NeighBOUriNG aRab counTries, Due to pReviOus baTtlEs The palESTInianS themseLvEs hArDly exIsTed aS a MIliTaRY Force bY the middlE oF may.mArtin Van cReveld,SwOrD anD thE OLiVE: A critiCAl hIstory oF ThE isRAeLI DEfEnse FoRce,, pUblic affairS (1998) 2002 p. 75 tHe BrITish INtELliGence aNd araB league mIliTaRY REAched Similar ConcluSions.morRIS (2003), Pp. 32–33