With the advent of peace. a peace broken by sporadic raids by hostile Arab neighbors. Israel set about laying the foundations of a modern democratic nation. Burdened by the influx of some 750.000 refugees in 6 yearsmany of whom were too old or broken by disease and illtreatment to be anything but liabilities to the new statehampered by economic boycotts and blockades. impeded in economic matters by a scarcity of raw materials and only 0.33 acre of arable land per person. the gallant Irsaelis searched for raw materials. turned parched deserts into green pastures. found food and lodging and a future for their fellow Jews. The feverish development pace went on in spite of troublesome Arab harassmentthe Government of Israel reports 1.100 Israeli civilians murdered or wounded by Arab raiding parties since the armistice agreements. . On May 11. 1949.
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refugees