The Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization established in 1920 in British Mandate Palestine. Its primary goal was to defend Jewish communities against Arab attacks and to support the establishment of a Jewish state. The Haganah played a crucial role in the struggle for Jewish independence, particularly during the 1936-1939 Arab revolt and World War II. In 1948, as the State of Israel was declared, the Haganah became the core of the newly formed Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The organization was instrumental in various military operations during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, helping to secure territory for the nascent state and ensuring the safety of its citizens.