Israel declares its independence and statehood in 1948

Haganah soldiers stand outside Tel Aviv building / montage Jewish provisional government members sit at table in hall of Tel Aviv Museum as leader David Ben-Gurion reads proclamation of independence; portrait of Zionist Theodor Herzl hangs on wall above / Haganah soldiers hold back group of people outside building / flag of new state of Israel flies in breeze / montage Governor General Sir Alan Cunningham shakes hands with officials on airfield as he prepares to depart / rear shot British soldiers carry bundles toward transport ship in Haifa / from Greatest Headlines of the Century series