when did israel become a nation

Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948. On this date, the Israeli Declaration of Independence was proclaimed by David Ben-Gurion, officially establishing the State of Israel. This declaration marked the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and the beginning of Israel as an independent Jewish state, a date now celebrated annually as Israel's Independence Day. The announcement took place at midnight on May 14, 1948, and was followed immediately by recognition from the United States and subsequent conflicts with neighboring Arab states.