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Israel

History

General History

Israel's history dates back thousands of years, with its earliest roots in ancient civilizations that inhabited the region. The area, known historically as Canaan, saw the rise and fall of various empires and kingdoms. Over centuries, the region has experienced significant cultural and religious developments, becoming a focal point for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

From 1517-1917, Israel was under the control of the Ottoman Empire as part of a broader territory known as Greater Syria (modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel/Palestine) with diverse cultures and ethnic groups making up its population, including Arabs, Jews, Kurds, Armenians, Turks, and others. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the movement for the establishment of a Jewish homeland gained momentum, influenced by the broader context of nationalism and the plight of Jewish communities in Europe. This led to increased Jewish immigration to the region. Tensions between different communities in the area grew, leading to various conflicts and negotiations. Following the decline of the Ottoman Empire and its collapse after WWI, the UN divided control of Greater Syria into European Mandates, with the British in control of Palestine in 1920.

In 1948, Britain ceded control of Palestine to the United Nations following an attempted partition plan for separate Arab and Jewish states. On May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence and was recognized by the United Nations in 1949. The events surrounding the creation of Israel have had significant and ongoing effects in the region, including the displacement of approximately 700,000 Palestinians. The subsequent decades have seen numerous conflicts, peace treaties, and efforts at reconciliation, reflecting the region's intricate and multifaceted history.

Timeline

1516 - 1917 Palestine was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and it remained under Turkish rule until the end of the First World War.
1882 - 1903 The "First Aliyah" or major wave of Jews immigrated to Palestine. Jews who migrated to Ottoman Palestine in this wave came mostly from Eastern Europe and from Yemen.
1904 - 1914 The Second Aliyah brought some 40,000 Jews to settle in Palestine.
1917 After the capture of Jerusalem by the British, the Balfour Declaration expressed support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.
1919 - 1929 The Third and Fourth Aliyahs brought an additional 100,000 Jews to Palestine.
1947 The United Nations proposed a plan to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as an international city. The plan was accepted by the Jewish community but rejected by the Arab states.
1948 Israel declares itself as an independent state.

1947 - 1949 Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced as a result of the events surrounding the creation of the State of Israel.
1949 Israel is admitted to the United Nations.
1950 The Law of Return is enacted, granting Jews the right to immigrate to Israel and gain citizenship.
1948 - 1970 Approximately 1,150,000 Jewish refugees are relocated to Israel.
1950s - 1960s Palestinian refugees settle in various countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip, often living in refugee camps under difficult conditions.
1990 and 1994 - Immigration from the post-Soviet states increased Israel's population by twelve percent.

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