At great cost in blood and shattered dreams. the armies of seven invading Arab neighbors were eventually repelled. Israel then set to work again. rebuilding its ancient homeland. opening its doors to the homeless and oppressed of other nations. From 1948 onwards. well over 1 million refugee Jews found a new home in Israel. ending millenia of wandering and persecution. Again in 1956. world attention focused on Israel as Jewish armies struck deep into the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. destroying the commando bases from which infiltrating marauder bands had launched their raids of pillage and murder against innocent Israeli villagers. As a result of the Sinai campaign. precarious peace was restored along Israels borders.