1. History of Israel/Palestine Conflict Ancient History

2. The Jewish Story

3. 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.

4. The earliest history of Israel comes from the stories told in the Bible and archaeological evidence.

5. 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 land 3. The International Community gave the Jews the land 4. It was captured in defensive Wars.

6. 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.

7. It is believed that they and their wives are buried in the Tomb of the Patriarchs, in Hebron.

8. 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.

9. Early History of the Jews Soon 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 descendants of Abraham crystallized into a nation at about 1300 BCE after their Exodus from Egypt under the leadership of Moses.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. The Palestinians

17. 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 19 th, 20 th 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 19 th, 20 th century with the Birth of Arab nationalism. As a result it is difficult to find anything specific on their ancient history.

18. Abraham Tradition traces their line to Ishmael, Abrahams other son.

19. After the Arab conquest in the 7 th 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.

20. The Ottoman Empire The Land which is today Israel became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1516. Many Arabs continued to live there.

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