History of Israel/Palestine Conflict

Ancient History

The Jewish Story

Facts about current day Israel

• Israel is the land promised to Abraham• Israel is central to the Jewish religion• Zionism is a political movement to

establish a Jewish homeland• Israel is a democratic country• Israel is home to 1/3 of the world’s

Jews• 20% of Israel is not Jewish.

The earliest history of Israel

comes from the stories told in the Bible and archaeological

evidence.

Today, Jews base their claim on the land on 4 principles:

1. It was given to Abraham by God

2. The Jewish people settled and developed the

land3. The International

Community gave the Jews the land

4. It was captured in defensive Wars.

Abraham

• The people of Israel (Jewish People) trace their origin to Abraham, who established the belief that there is only one God.

•

Abraham, his son Isaac, and grandson Jacob (also named Israel), are referred to as the patriarchs of the Israelites. All three patriarchs lived in the Land

of Canaan, that later came to be known as the Land of Israel.

Abraham, his son Isaac, and grandson Jacob (also named Israel), are referred to as the patriarchs of the Israelites. All three patriarchs lived in the Land

of Canaan, that later came to be known as the Land of Israel.

It is believed that they and their wives are buried in the Tomb of the

Patriarchs, in Hebron.

It is believed that they and their wives are buried in the Tomb of the

Patriarchs, in Hebron.

GENESIS 17: 7-8 • And I will establish my covenant between ME

and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a G-D unto thee and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and thy seed after thee, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Caanan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their G-D."

Judaism is one of the oldest religions. It believes in a covenant between Jews and God, in which the land of

Israel is given to them.

Judaism is one of the oldest religions. It believes in a covenant between Jews and God, in which the land of

Israel is given to them.

Early History of the JewsSoon after the Exodus, Moses

transmitted to the people of this new

emerging nation, the Torah, and the Ten Commandments.

After 40 years in the Sinai desert, Moses

led them to the Land of Israel, that is cited in The Bible as the

land promised by G-d to the

descendants of the patriarchs, Abraham,

Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 17:8).

The descendant

s of Abraham

crystallized into a

nation at about 1300 BCE after

their Exodus

from Egypt under the leadership of Moses.

Period of the Kings

The rule of Israelites in the land of Israel starts with the conquests of Joshua (ca. 1250 BCE). This period is known

as the "Period of the Kings". Jerusalem becomes the capital and a monarchy is established there for over 200 years. Jewish communities also spring up in other Jaffa,

Raffah, etc.

The rule of Israelites in the land of Israel starts with the conquests of Joshua (ca. 1250 BCE). This period is known

as the "Period of the Kings". Jerusalem becomes the capital and a monarchy is established there for over 200 years. Jewish communities also spring up in other Jaffa,

Raffah, etc.

• 587 BCE: Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar's army captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled the Jews to Babylon (modern day Iraq).

The year 587 BCE marks a turning point in the history of the region. From this year onwards, the region was

ruled or controlled by a succession

of superpower Empires.

The year 587 BCE marks a turning point in the history of the region. From this year onwards, the region was

ruled or controlled by a succession

of superpower Empires.

Foreign Empires that ruled in Israel

•587 BCE: Babylonian•538-333 BCE: Persian•333-63 BCE: Hellenistic•63 BCE-313 CE: Roman•313-636: Byzantine•636-1099: Arab

•1291-1516: Mamluk (Islamic)•1516-1918: Ottoman•1917-1948: British

Foreign Empires that ruled in Israel

•587 BCE: Babylonian•538-333 BCE: Persian•333-63 BCE: Hellenistic•63 BCE-313 CE: Roman•313-636: Byzantine•636-1099: Arab

•1291-1516: Mamluk (Islamic)•1516-1918: Ottoman•1917-1948: British

The Diaspora

After the exile by the Romans, the Jewish found themselves scattered outside the land of Israel. People migrated to Europe and North Africa.

•Changes in Culture?•Persecution•Changes in Culture?•Persecution

Nationhood

The people of modern day Israel share the same language and culture shaped by the Jewish heritage and religion passed through generations starting with the founding

father Abraham.

The people of modern day Israel share the same language and culture shaped by the Jewish heritage and religion passed through generations starting with the founding

father Abraham.

There is debate today about whether the Jews of modern day Israel are really the same people as the ancient Jews.

There is debate today about whether the Jews of modern day Israel are really the same people as the ancient Jews.

Nationhood and Zionism

The sense of being a nation has always been very strong among the Jews, which has allowed them to be a stronger, organized, cohesive force. This was a major advantage when they entered into conflict with the Palestinians.

The First Zionist Council: 1897.Theodor Herzl

The First Zionist Council: 1897.Theodor Herzl

The Palestinians

•The origin of the Arabs is an intermingling of several races,

ethnic groups instead of a more singular line.

•There were ethnic Arab groups that were spread out on the land for at

least a millennia.•The notion of “Arabs” as a group

only developed in the 19th, 20th century with the Birth of Arab

nationalism.• As a result it is difficult to find

anything specific on their ancient history.

•The origin of the Arabs is an intermingling of several races,

ethnic groups instead of a more singular line.

•There were ethnic Arab groups that were spread out on the land for at

least a millennia.•The notion of “Arabs” as a group

only developed in the 19th, 20th century with the Birth of Arab

nationalism.• As a result it is difficult to find

anything specific on their ancient history.

Abraham

• Tradition traces their line to Ishmael, Abrahams other son.

After the Arab conquest in the 7th century, the remaining inhabitants were mostly

assimilated into Arab culture and the Muslim region, though Palestine retained Christian and Jewish minorities, the latter especially

living in Jerusalem.

The Ottoman Empire

The Land which is today Israel became part of the Ottoman

Empire in 1516. Many Arabs

continued to live there.

The Land which is today Israel became part of the Ottoman

Empire in 1516. Many Arabs

continued to live there.

The History of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has its roots in the late 19th century, turned violent in the 1930s and continues to the present day.

The end of the 19th century marks the birth of two major nationalist movements among the Jews and among the Arabs, both aimed at

attaining sovereignty for their people in the middle East. The

Israel/Palestine conflict is part of a larger Arab/Israeli conflict.

The History of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has its roots in the late 19th century, turned violent in the 1930s and continues to the present day.

The end of the 19th century marks the birth of two major nationalist movements among the Jews and among the Arabs, both aimed at

attaining sovereignty for their people in the middle East. The

Israel/Palestine conflict is part of a larger Arab/Israeli conflict.