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[[Image:Mosque.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem]]

[[Image:Mosque.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem]]

Israel is a nation located in the [[Middle East]]. It is the world's only Jewish state, allowing citizenship to anybody with a [[Jewish]] heritage. However, Israel is also densely populated with [[Arab]] Muslim and [[Christian]] residents, along with a small [[Druze]] community.  It is the location of [[Jesus]]' birth and many other major [[Bible|Biblical events]].

Israel is a nation located in the [[Middle East]]. It is the world's only Jewish state, allowing citizenship to anybody its government considers to be [[Jewish]]. It also contains [[Arab]] Muslim and Arab [[Christian]] minorities who are remnants of the pre-1948 Arab majority, along with a small [[Druze]] community.  It is the location of [[Jesus]]' birth and many other major [[Bible|Biblical events]].

==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.) The Bible states that the land of Israel was promised to the Jews by God, after their expulsion from Egypt in [[Exodus|Book of Exodus]].  This is the main point of contention between Arabs and Jews/Christians (Arabs believe the Bible to be incorrect).  The first attempt at forming a nation dates back to the migration of the [[Hebrews]] 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 descendents were numerous, but were put under bondage in [[Egypt]].  The first attempt at forming a nation dates back to the migration of the [[Hebrews]] 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)

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.

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.