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[[Image:Tst4436.jpg|right|thumb|[[David Ben Gurion]], the First Prime Minister of Israel, publicly pronouncing the Declaration of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948, [[Tel Aviv]], Israel, beneath a large portrait of Theodore Herzl, founder of modern political Zionism, in the old Tel Aviv Museum of Art building on Rotshild St.]]

 

 

[[Image:Tst4436.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[David Ben Gurion]], the First Prime Minister of Israel, publicly pronouncing the Declaration of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948, [[Tel Aviv]], Israel, beneath a large portrait of Theodore Herzl, founder of modern political Zionism, in the old Tel Aviv Museum of Art building on Rotshild St.]]

 

[[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 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.

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.

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 there 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. Britain's occupation became too expensive and they handed control to the united nations.  

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 there 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. Britain's occupation became too expensive and they handed control to the united nations.  

 

The UN came up with a partition plan, which was generally accepted by Jews in Palestine, but rejected by the Arab majority. Israel declared itself independent on 14 May 1948, which was followed by the invasion of Palestine by Arab nations, leading to the war of 1948. Israel won that war and has been independent ever since. Many Muslim inhabitants fled the new state, or were driven out by Israelis, which, along with immigration from the Jewish diaspora, led to the creation of a Jewish state in fact as well as name.

The UN came up with a partition plan, which was generally accepted by Jews in Palestine, but rejected by the Arab majority. Israel declared itself independent on 14 May 1948, which was followed by the invasion of Palestine by Arab nations, leading to the war of 1948. Israel won that war and has been independent ever since. Many Muslim inhabitants fled the new state, or were driven out by Israelis, which, along with immigration from the Jewish diaspora, led to the creation of a Jewish state in fact as well as name.

Israel is the location of intense territorial disputes between [[Israeli]]s and [[Palestinian Arabs]] (see [[Arab-Israeli conflict]]).   

Israel is the location of intense territorial disputes between [[Israeli]]s and [[Palestinian Arabs]] (see [[Arab-Israeli conflict]]).   

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/v3_ip_timeline/html/default.stm History of Conflict]

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/v3_ip_timeline/html/default.stm History of Conflict]

== External links ==

== External links ==

*[http://israelemb.org/kids/ Welcome to Israel (for Kids)]

*[http://israelemb.org/kids/ Welcome to Israel (for Kids)]

*[http://www.usy.org/yourusy/israel/support/ Ways to Support Israel]

*[http://www.usy.org/yourusy/israel/support/ Ways to Support Israel]

[[Category:Middle Eastern Countries]]

[[Category:Middle Eastern Countries]]