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Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7384204.stm
"I Was at Israel's Founding"
[BBC News] Arieh Handler, 93, a member of the Zionist General Council [the governing body of the Jewish people in Palestine], recounts that historic day of 14 May 1948 when the State of Israel was declared. "I still have the original invitation. It reads: 'From the Administration of the Nation, Tel Aviv, 13 May 1948. We are honored to send to you this invitation to the session of the declaration of independence.'" After the state was declared, "Egyptian planes were already bombing Tel Aviv, and Glubb Pasha [the British commander of the army of Transjordan] was leading an Arab army." "Despite all these troubles, there was tremendous excitement. People were dancing in the streets, day and night, even as the planes were bombing."