The birth of Israel
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A man and woman happily display the Israeli flag shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948. (LIFE.com)
Soldiers walk down a ruined street, shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948. (LIFE.com)
Israeli men photographed shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948. (LIFE.com)
Israel's Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion reads the Proclamation of Nationhood beneath a portrait of Zionism founder Theodor Herzl. <a target="_blank" href="http://life.time.com/history/israel-at-65-photos-from-the-dawn-of-a-new-state-may-1948/#1">Click for more photos from Life.com.</a> (LIFE.com)
An Israeli soldier examines souvenir from Egyptian Spitfire shot down on Tel Aviv beach. (LIFE.com)