(A Very Brief) History of Israel

Who does the land belong to? In ancient times (3,000 years ago), the land belonged to the Jews when Jewish kings ruled Palestine. Since the Jews were driven out in 135 CE, the land has belonged to Palestinians (both Muslim and Christian).

Why is the land so important? “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham and said, ‘ To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates - the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.’” Genesis 15:18-21

Why is Jerusalem so important? In Judaism… o Ancestral & spiritual homeland since the 10 th century BCE o Where God told them to go after wandering the desert – land promised to them by God in the Torah In Islam… o Important of previous prophets’ visits to the city o Muhammad visited the city and designated the Al- Aqsa for pilgrimage In Christianity… o The city where Jesus Christ ate his last supper, was arrested, tried, crucified, buried, resurrected, and ascended to Heaven

How did the Jews get back to Israel? After leaving their homeland, the Jews spread out to many different countries (“the Diaspora ”). Although many tried to fit in with their new countries, there were some who favored re- establishing a Jewish homeland. These people are called Zionists.

How did the Jews get back to Israel? After WWI, Britain got control of much of the Middle East from the former Ottoman Empire. In 1917, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration, which pledged to support the creation of Jewish homeland. Many Arabs were angry and so Britain did not go further with this idea (yet). But, after the Holocaust there was a mass migration of Jews back to Palestine.

Jews & Arabs in Palestine In 1920, there was 1 Jew to every 10 Arabs in Palestine. By 1947, there was 1 Jew to every 2 Arabs.

Creation of Israel In 1948, the United Nations created two independent states – Israel and Palestine. (This was supported by the Jews but not the Arabs.) The next day, civil war broke out in the First Arab-Israeli War.

The Loss of Palestine The day after Israel declared its independence (3 months earlier than agreed), Arab armies crossed the border and the war began. Why? o Many Arabs were resentful of the loss of land. o King Abdullah of Jordan had made a deal with Israel to use his Arab Legion to conquer the rest of Palestine for Israel. The other Arabs invaded also to stop these plans. How did it end? o 1949 – almost all Palestinian territory had been taken over by Israel or Jordan

The question for your generation: What’s the solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine?