Changes

==History==

==History==

The name Israel refers to [[Jacob]] from the [[Bible]], the father of the [[Jews]] who would eventually create the kingdom of Israel.  (See the [[Genesis|Book of Genesis]] in the Bible.) Jacob's descendants were numerous, but were put under bondage in [[Egypt]].  The first attempt at forming a nation dates back to the migration or [[Exodus of Israel]] out of Egypt after being freed from their [[slavery]].  (See the [[Exodus|Book of Exodus]] in the Bible).  While the exact date is not known, the most likely scenario is in the 1400's B.C.  After 40 years of wandering, the Hebrews attempted to settle in the land of Canaan, after first having to fight battles with the inhabitants.  (See the [[Joshua (Biblical book)|Book of Joshua]] in the Bible).  The Jewish people lived for hundreds of years under Judges (See the [[Judges|Book of Judges]] in the Bible) before forming a monarchy under their first King, [[Saul]] in 1050 B.C.  Israel expanded under [[King David|David]] from 1010 to 970 B.C. and then reached its height under [[Solomon]] from 970 to 930 B.C.  With the death of Solomon the united kingdom of Israel split in two with the tribes of Judah and Benjamin forming their own nation, [[Judah]]. (See [[I Samuel]], [[II Samuel]], [[I Kings]], [[I Chronicles]] in the Bible)

The name Israel refers to [[Jacob]] from the [[Bible]], the father of the [[Jews]] who would eventually create the kingdom of Israel.  (See the [[Genesis|Book of Genesis]] in the Bible.) Jacob's descendants were numerous, but were put under bondage in [[Egypt]].  The first attempt at forming a nation dates back to the migration or [[Exodus of Israel]] out of Egypt after being freed from their [[slavery]].  (See the [[Exodus|Book of Exodus]] in the Bible).  While the exact date is not known, the most likely scenario is in the 1400's B.C.  After 40 years of wandering, the Hebrews attempted to settle in the land of Canaan, after first having to fight battles with the inhabitants.  (See the [[Joshua (Biblical book)|Book of Joshua]] in the Bible).  The Jewish people lived for hundreds of years under Judges (See the [[Judges|Book of Judges]] in the Bible) before forming a monarchy under their first King, [[Saul]] in 1050 B.C.  Israel expanded under [[King David|David]] from 1010 to 970 B.C. and then reached its height under [[Solomon]] from 970 to 930 B.C.  With the death of Solomon the united kingdom of Israel split in two with the tribes of Judah and Benjamin forming their own nation, [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]]. (See [[I Samuel]], [[II Samuel]], [[I Kings]], [[I Chronicles]] in the Bible)

Israel continued being ruled by kings until its conquest by [[Assyria]] in 722 B.C. Most of the kings "did evil in the sight of the Lord" leading to their downfall.  Judah continued as an independent nation until 586 B.C. when they fell to the [[Babylonians]] after also turning their backs on God.  Both of these conquests led to many Jews being deported from the land of Israel.  While under [[Persian empire|Persian]] rule in the latter half of the 500's B.C., the Jews were allowed to return and rebuild their temple.  In the 400's B.C. they began to return to God as well, showing a reverence for Him that was often lacking during the time they had their own kingdom.

The first King of Israel was [[Jeroboam I]], who made his capital at [[Shechem]] until it was replaced by [[Samaria]] under [[Omri]].  Almost immediately the Israeli kings "did evil in the sight of the Lord" and turned away from the Lord God.  Although they were larger and more powerful than Judah, they fell more quickly due to their apostacy. Israel continued being ruled by kings until its conquest by [[Assyria]] in 722 B.C. Judah had a number of kings who did what was right in God's sight, but eventually they too were turning away.  They continued as an independent nation until 586 B.C. when they fell to the [[Babylonians]].  Both of these conquests led to many Jews being deported from the land of Israel.  While under [[Persian empire|Persian]] rule after the Babylonians had fallen to the Persians, the Jews were allowed to return and rebuild their temple (520 - 516 B.C.)<ref>An Encyclopedia of World History, Kingsport Press, 1948</ref> In the 400's B.C. they began to return to God as well, showing a reverence for Him that was often lacking during the time they had their own kingdom.  Still under Persian rule and with their blessing, [[Nehemiah]] came to rebuild the walls of [[Jerusalem]], a position that was bitterly opposed by the other peoples living on the land.  The Jews had to stand guard as they built.

When the Jews were subjected to harsh religious treatment under their Greek Syrian rulers, they revolted, fighting a prolonged guerrilla war until their eventual independence in 164 B.C.  This independence would last until 63 B.C., when infighting caused the Jews to ask for [[Roman]] intervention.  Rome stopped the fighting, but Israel came under Roman rule as the province of [[Palestine]].  The Jewish people would not have their independence again for over 2000 years.  Three revolts against Roman rule, the first in 66 A.D. and the last in 132 A.D., led to the [[diaspora]], the dispersal of the Jews from the land of Palestine.     

When [[Alexander the Great]] swept through Israel in 332 B.C., Persian rule had ended to be replaced by [[Macedone|Greek]].  Upon Alexander's death in 323 B.C. there was a fight for power among his generals and subordinates, which led to Israel coming under control of the Ptolemies, the Greek leaders of Egypt.  The Jews were treated leniently until the [[Seleucids]], the Greek leaders of Syria, pushed back the Ptolemies and took over Israel in 198 B.C.  The Ptolemies were not as lenient and under [[Antiochus IV]] (175 to 164 B.C.) conditions worsened considerably.  In 168 B.C. Judaism was declared to be illegal and a pig was sacrified on the altar of the Jewish temple; the Jews revolted under the Maccabees and fought a prolonged guerrilla war until their eventual religious independence in 164 B.C.  Complete acknowledgement of independence from the Seleucids didn't come until 142 B.C. when Roman pressure helped them to make the decision to let Israel go.  This independence would last until 63 B.C., when infighting caused the Jews to ask for [[Roman]] intervention.  Rome stopped the fighting, but Israel came under Roman rule as the province of [[Palestine]].  The Jewish people would not have their independence again for over 2000 years.  It was under this state of Roman control that [[Jesus]] was born around 4 B.C.  Three revolts against Roman rule by the Jews, the first in 66 A.D., the next in 115 A.D., and the last in 132 A.D. took place, and failed.  After the failure of the third, the Romans forced the Jews to leave Israel thus beginning the [[diaspora]], the dispersal of the Jews from the land of Palestine.     

By the fifth century the inhabitants of the region were Christianized, under the [[Byzantine Empire]], a situation which continued until the [[Arab]] invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries. The Arabs brought with them the [[Islam]]ic faith which, due to its many similarities with [[Christianity]] and [[Judaism]] and the social advantages it brought, was gradually adopted by the population. However, Jewish and Christian citizens continued to live in the region, in relative peace, until the Crusades.

By the fifth century the inhabitants of the region were Christianized, under the [[Byzantine Empire]], a situation which continued until the [[Arab]] invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries. The Arabs brought with them the [[Islam]]ic faith which, due to its many similarities with [[Christianity]] and [[Judaism]] and the social advantages it brought, was gradually adopted by the population. However, Jewish and Christian citizens continued to live in the region, in relative peace, until the Crusades.

The [[Crusades]] saw part of the Holy Lands reconquered from Islam in the name of Christianity.  The Crusader states were temporary before being conquered by Islam again with the fall of the last Crusader state in 1290.  First the [[Mamelukes]] controlled the area, then starting in the early 1500's, the [[Ottoman Turks]] conquered the region.  [[World War I]] saw a British victory over the Ottoman's and the region came under British mandate of Palestine in 1920.  

The [[Crusades]] saw part of the Holy Lands reconquered from Islam in the name of Christianity.  The Crusader states were temporary before being conquered by Islam again with the fall of the last Crusader state in 1290.  First the [[Mamelukes]] controlled the area, then starting in the early 1500's, the [[Ottoman Turks]] conquered the region.  [[World War I]] saw a British victory over the Ottoman's and the region came under British mandate of Palestine in 1920.  

The British and late Ottoman authorities permitted the resettlement of Jews from Europe, many of them looking to establish a Jewish state in the region, part of a movement called [[Zionism]]. In the last years of British mandate the number and strength of the Jews in [[Palestine]] increased, with many adopting extremely radical tactics to achieve their goal of an independent Jewish state. Terrorist organizations such as Irgun and Lehi attacked British and Arab targets, killing civilians of all faiths in the process. {{fact}} Britain's occupation became too expensive and they handed control to the [[United Nations]]. {{fact}}

The British and late Ottoman authorities permitted the resettlement of Jews from Europe, many of them looking to establish a Jewish state in the region, part of a movement called [[Zionism]]. In the last years of British mandate the number and strength of the Jews in [[Palestine]] increased, with many adopting extremely radical tactics to achieve their goal of an independent Jewish state. Terrorist organizations such as Irgun and Lehi attacked British and Arab targets, killing civilians in the process. Britain's occupation became too expensive and they handed control to the [[United Nations]] to sort out a solution.

==Modern Nation==

==Modern Nation==