On May 14, 1948, the day Israel declared its independence, the armies of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq (supplied by the Soviet Union) invaded Israel with the intent of destroying it. Israel had no weaponery to speak of, and literally used picks/shovels in the beginning. Yet, they kicked the crap out of the Arabs.
On June 5, 1967, the Six Day War broke out between Israel, and Egypt/Syria/Jordan. Within six days, Israeli forces broke through the enemy lines and were in a position to march on Cairo, Damascus and Amman. Only a U.N. sponsored ceasefire stopped the massacre. Israel kept the Sinai Penninsula, and the Golan Heights, PLUS Jerusalem for its spoils.
Since that time, Israel invades Lebanon whenever it wants, and stomps the Syrian Army just for good measure.