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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 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. It is the location of [[Jesus]]' birth and many other major [[Bible|Biblical events]].

 

==History==

==History==

Though the state of Israel was founded in 1948, many interpret it as a continuation of the biblical Kingdoms of Israel and [[Judah]].

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 date 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 wondering, 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 it's 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 later 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.

 

When the Jews were subjected to harsh religious treatment under their Greek Syrian rulers, they revolted fighting a prolonged guerilla war until their eventual independence in 164 B.C.  This independence would last until 63 B.C., when infighting such the Jews ask for [[Roman]] intervention.  Rome solved the fighting, but Israel came under Roman rule as the province of [[Palestine]].  They would not have their independence again for over 2000 more 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.   

 

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 origins of these kingdoms date back to the migration of the [[Hebrews]] from [[Egypt]] out of [[Egypt]], at the end of the second millennium BC. It is the location of [[Jesus]]' birth and many other major [[Bible|Biblical events]].

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.  

   

It was conquered by the [[Romans]] in 200 B.C, starting the period of the Jewish diaspora. By the fifth century the region was 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 Islamic 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]] led to the destruction of of these Jewish communities (including that of Jerusalem, where Arab Christians, [[Muslims]] and Jews were murdered indiscriminately by the Christian Crusaders) and the temporary expulsion of Muslims who refused baptism from much of what is now Israel. The fall of the last crusader kingdom in 1290 gave way to Mameluk then Ottoman domination of the territory, which lasted until the territory 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 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. {{fact}} Britain's occupation became too expensive and they handed control to the [[United Nations]]. {{fact}}

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. The United States under [[Harry Truman]] immediately recognized Israel. Israel's declaration of independence was not accepted by its Arab neighbors and 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.  Wars in 1956, 1967, and 1973 only solidified the hold of the Jewish people on the land of Israel.

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]]).