The recreation of the Modern State of Israel
The area known to us as the Land of Israel for over 3700 years, has had occupied by many different nations since the Roman Empire destroyed the second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. In fact, thus far the land has belonged to the Jewish people since Abrahamic times. The importance of this area comes from the social, political, and historical aspects link to the spiritual center set-up by the Jewish people since the day Abraham sacrifice on Mount Moriah which is known today as Temple Mount. Since then; three major religions consider it as important; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as well as the geographic importance of Israel as a land connection between Africa and Asia.
Israel: Beginning - 1900 AD
The Nation of Israel
When we look at this area and the recording of it's inhabitants in scripture, we find that this area was first inhabited by the Amorites, the Canaanites, who are descendants of Noah through Ham. The Jews through appear on this land when Abramam commanded by G-d sacrificed on the alter the Ram instead of his son Isaac. Jacob lived is the land until famine struck and he went to Egypt to seek food; the children of Jacob multiplied and became a huge Jewish Nation; which the Paharoh of Egypt enslaved for over 200 years. Moses by G-d's command lead the Jews out of the land of Egypt and gave the land of Canaan to the Jewish people for eternity. For over 12 centuries, the Jewish people with king Saul, King David, King Solomon and other Kings and under the leadership of the judges. While the Land of Israel was conquered by various nations as occupied territory; Jews who are the remaining indigenous people continued living in various parts of the land of Israel until the Modern State of Israel was reestablished and the Jewish people regained their sovereignty.
The Exile of Israel
After Israel had rebelled and forsaken the Almighty, some of them were taken captive and enslaved first by the Assyrians and then by the Babylonians. After this, they found favor with the Persians and were able to return the land and rebuild the Second Temple. About 500 years later, some were swept away by the Roman empire that renamed it Palestine. The other remaining tribe of Judah remained for the next couple millennia as the Byzantine, numerous Muslim kingdoms, and Christian groups fought for control of the land as occupiers. Under the Christian Crusades expelled all the Muslims, the land of Israel was occupied by various nations through the early 1500. In 1517 it ended up as part of the Ottoman Empire that ruled it through Damascus; which lasted into 1917.
The Zionist Movement
It was during the latter part of the Ottoman empire, around 1878, that the modern Zionist Movement to resettle Jews from the land began in Eastern Europe. This was due mostly to the persecution of the Jews in Russia and the countries to the west. At this time, the entire region both west and east of the Jordan river was known as Palestine and was mostly desolate.
Israel: 1900 - 1920 AD
The British Mandate
The beginning of this century was full of turmoil and political upheavals in the world. The region we know as historical Israel is still part of the Ottoman empire. World War I enters the scene and with it many changes on the map. The Supreme Allied Powers divided the Ottoman Empire; and The League of Nations was formed and started handing out Mandates in which one country was given the task of preparing a smaller or less advanced country for future self-rule. In 1918, the British forces took command of the region of Palestine and Britain assumed the obligation as trustee for the Jewish people under the Mandate for Palestine which constituted the Jewish National Home in Palestine and would promote Jewish immigration; thus, upon reaching majority, Jewish sovereignty would take over as mandated by the Supreme Allied Power as international law and treaty.
The Balfour Declaration
The Zionist movement was strong in Britain and had some political power. In 1917, Britain made the Balfour Declaration. This stated that Britain favored creating a national homeland for the Jewish people in their historical land within Palestine. This plan included the added immigration of Jews into the land where Jews had already been living continuously for over three thousand years as the remaining indigenous people and so they could again become a majority and gain self-rule. This made the area of Palestine unique in the League of Nations mandates since all other areas were assured that the then indigenous people would ultimately be granted independence after a period of tutelage. Britain's purpose in doing this was not only to pursue Zionism and correct the injustice to the Jews, but to suit it's own imperial interest which included open trade routes to the British colony of India.
The Arab Response
The 1917 Balfour Declaration created hope among the Arabs in Palestine, as it was understood that the Jews would develop Palestine and bring about better economic condition for the local Arab population; Britain promised to reconstitute the Jewish state in Palestine. The Arab nations were also promised a majority share of the Ottoman Empire territory. After WWI the Supreme allied powers allocated over 5 million square miles for the 22 Arab states and The Jewish National Home in Palestine which is the Jewish historical connection to the land which became international law and treaty. The Arabs were not happy with this arrangement, they wanted it all including all of Palestine and between the two world wars the British did make major concessions to Arab concerns to keep good relations and retain control of the oil. Meanwhile Jewish immigrants escaping anti-semitism started coming from Eastern Europe.
Israel: 1920 - 1940 AD
Local Rulers
The next two decades had many map changes as many nations were tentatively carved out on the continents. Both Britain and France carved up their respective land regions and placed local rulers who would allow them to keep the real power.
Emirate of Trans-Jordan
In 1922 in violation of international law and treaties the Emirate of Trans-Jordan was created on the land East of the Jordan River. This was done to placate the Arab nations as this effectively separated that Western area of Palestine from the area of Palestine east of the River which then became known as Eastern Palestine and prohibited Jewish ownership and settlement in the area East of the Jordan River. At this time, Abdullah, son of Hussein of Mecca, was made governor there. Abdullah was supported by T.E. Lawrence and through him by Winston Churchill who wanted control of the oil and was guiding British Middle East policy at that time.
Immigration and Economy
In 1920 the Supreme Allied Powers incorporated the 1917 Balfour Declaration as international law and mandated over 5 million square miles for the Arab states and about 70,000 square miles in Palestine as the reconstituted Jewish National Home in its historical land Palestine. In 1922, the League of Nations incorporated and accepted the 1917 Balfour Declaration. This supported the Jewish immigration and increased the Jewish population from about 97,000 in 1929 to 485,457 in 1939. At this time, the main Zionist leadership was through Chaim Weizmann in England and by David Ben-Gurion in Palestine. This leadership was the situation. In fact, the Arab leadership was able to confront Zionism as a whole, come to terms with it, or even agree on a unified policy but fought against it by pressuring the British. Throughout the interwar period, Zionists sought to buy land from Arab landowners in Palestine, turn the desert into green pastures and build a modern economy. They succeeded in creating a modern industrial sector through hard work and capital sources from Jewish organization worldwide.
Approach of WWII
In the 1930's German and European Jews started with the rise of the Nazi party and anti-semitism and the immigrating in significant numbers after Adolf Hitler came to power and started persecuting Jews. During this time the British turned a blind eye to hundreds of thousands of Arabs illegally entering Palestine for better economic conditions created by Jewish development of the land. This wave of Arab immigration led to Arab rebellion against the British from 1936 - 1939. This in turn led to Britain's issuing of a 'white paper', an official government document, stating the curtailing of Jewish immigration and land purchases for 5 years with a complete ban thereafter. This was done because Britain wanted control of Arab oil in the Middle East on the eve of WWII.
Israel: 1940 - 1960 AD
After the Holocaust
Prior to WWII, in violation of international law and treaties and the mandate; Britain was making concessions to the Arab nations to stop the Jewish immigration into Palestine. However, after the horrors of the holocaust, the creation of a Jewish homeland had renewed meaning and urgency and Britain permitted a minute number Jewish immigration to Palestine under pressure from the United States. But Britain went as far as blowing up Holocaust Jewish refugee Ships bound for Palestine under "Operation Embarrass"
The U.N. Partition
Through WWII the Zionist movement had worked with Britain, but at this time starting a confronting due to the immigration quotas which finally led to armed conflict in 1945 and onward. Also in 1945, the League of Arab States was formed to strengthen and co-ordinate programs for all states involved. It became increasingly political due to the Arab-Israeli conflict. In 1947, Britain abandoned its obligation to the terms of the Mandate for Palestine and left the Palestine problem to the United Nations whose General Assembly created a committee. In November, the UN recommended the partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states with Jerusalem as an international zone. The Arab nations rejected this proposal and refused the validity of a Zionist right to Palestine. The recommendation by the UN was in violation of international law and treaties signed by the Supreme Allied Powers in 1920. The UN recommendation if not accepted by all parties is null and void and has no meaning.
The State of Israel
In 1948, the State of Israel officially was proclaimed as sovereign. British troops were withdrawn from the land abandoning and relinquishing the mandate. The day after the troops left, the seven Arab nations launched a war against Israel asked the Arab population to vacate their homes; hoping to crush the new State. Within a short time, Israel had complete control of part of the proposed Jewish homeland and some formerly Arab controlled areas as well. The cease fire and armistice agreements in 1949 left Israel in control of 1/4 of Palestine ... less than allocated by international law and treaties and more than proposed by the United Nations, which has no validity. During this fighting, an estimated 526,000 Arabs had fled from their recent established homes, which ultimately lead to a movement seeking to reclaim and steal Palestine and end the existence of the Jewish State. During the battles of 1948, Trans-Jordan took the west bank also known as Judea and Samaria of the Jordan River and in 1949 officially became known as Jordan. Jordan also retained East Jerusalem and destroyed 49 Jewish houses of worship and cemeteries, plus occupied all Jewish structures and prohibited Jews from entry and worshiping in the Western Wall. In 1949 Ben-Gurion became Prime Minister and Weizmann became president of Israel. Later that year, Israel was admitted to the United Nations.
Access to Water
In 1956 Egypt took ownership of the Suez Canal from the British and blocked the Suez Canal for shipping and set up a blockade of the Straits of Tiran which effectively cut Israel off from East Africa and the far East. In 1956, the UN ordered Egypt to allow free passage through the Suez Canal, but they refused. Later in 1956, Israel and Britain responded militarily in the Sinai. A cease fire was arranged by the UN Emergency Force. Ultimately Israel received access to the Gulf of Aqaba to the south, and to the canal.
The Palestinian Army
In 1959, Yasir Arafat, who had received training with the Egyptian army, formed the al-Fatah, the largest of the Arab guerrilla units. In 1964 after training by the Russians. Arafat declared himself the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
Israel: 1960 - 1980 AD
The Six Day War
In 1967, Egypt ordered the UN to remove it's troops from it's borders and amassed over 100,000 troops in preparation to attack Israel. On June 5 - 10, 1967, in what has become known as the Six-day war, Israel in a defensive military operation and destroyed the Egyptian air force, The Syrian Air Force and the Jordanian Air Force, and some of Iraq Air Force. In this short time, Israel recaptured and liberated Sinai, Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. On June 11, 1967 a UN cease fire was put in place. Later that year, the UN Security Council called for Israel to enter into negotiation with the Arabs and rearrange its armed forces from its liberated territories for a just and lasting peace ... again the Arab nations rejected the idea.
Palestinian Liberation Organization
After the 1967 war, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) moved to Jordan. In 1969, al-Fatah took control of the PLO and Yasir Arafat became Chairman. Under Arafat, the PLO received official recognition from many nations. In 1970, the Jordanian army expelled the PLO in a bloody civil war after which the PLO moved to Lebanon and continued attacks against Israel from there.
Yom Kippur War
In 1973, Egypt and Syria made a surprise attack on one of Israel's most holiest day ... Yom Kippur. Israel suffered major losses, but after calling in its reserves it recovered to make a crushing defeat on both nations with its armed forces about 25 miles from Cairo and Damascus. The Accords signed in 1974-75 had Israel withdraw from Egypt to the Suez Canal and Sinai and from Syria to the Golan. The results of the surprise attack, the loss of lives fighting the war and the accords was the resignation of Golda Meirs Labor government in Israel and the official takeover by the Likud party in the 1977 elections which was headed by Manahem Begin.
Camp David Accord
In 1974, Arafat addressed the UN General Assembly and in 1976 the PLO, which is technically a terrorist organization, joined the League of Arab States. In 1977, Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat proposed a peace plan with Israel which led to mediation with US President Jimmy Carter and the Camp David Accord in 1979. Israel was developing political relations with Egypt. However, the Arab League was angered by this peace treaty and suspended Egyptian membership and moved its headquarters from Cairo to Tunis. a short while afterwards Anwar Sadaat was assassinated.
Israel: 1980 - 2000 AD
Immigration and Expansion
The last two decades within this century proved to be very busy politically. In the late 80's and early 90's there were many Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union. This caused a large amount of Jewish construction in Israel and many Jewish communities destroyed by the Arabs in Israels liberated territories in Judea and Samaria were rebuilt and enhanced employing many Arabs and improving their standard of living and healthcare. Radical Arabs objected to the rebuilding of Jewish communities which were destroyed by the Arabs.
Israel attacks the PLO
In 1981 Egyptian president el-Sadat was assassinated. In 1982, Israel was consistently attacked by terrorist from Lebanon and responded with a military operation to destroy the terrorist capabilities from attacking and force the PLO out. This caused the PLO to relocate to Tunis. Other Arab nations and hosted factions loyal to Arafat and others favoring more extreme Syrian leadership.
The Intifada
By 1987, the Arab leadership in the Gaza strip incited the masses to violence (which is mostly Muslim Arabs), this lead to the Intifada (translated 'shaking off') uprising. In 1988, the Legislative body of the PLO declared Jewish Palestine an independent Arab state and refused to accept UN resolutions that recognized Israel's right to exist ... Israel refused to deal with the terrorist group the PLO.
The Persian Gulf War
In 1989, Egypt was re-instated into the League of Arab States and the headquarters were moved back to Cairo. In 1991, Sadam Hussein invaded Kuwait and took over its wealth and oil wells. The over 400,000 Arab/Palestinians employed by the Kuwait were happy to see the invasion by Iraq. Saudi Arabia asked for military intervention and thus, started the Persian Gulf War and Iraq's Saddam Hussein's scud missile attack on Saudi Arabia and Israel. At U.S. urging, Israel mistakenly did not respond to this numerous missile attacks. This restraint caused a substantial arguments with Israel political leaders. Thereafter, some negotiations developed between Israel and the Arabs in liberated Israel.
Oslo Norway Accord
In 1992, Yitzhak Rabin became prime minister for the Labor party and started a program to work for peace with Arab nations. Rabin also announced that all options are open in the West Bank area. In 1993, the Oslo Norway Accord was signed in Washington. In this, Israel agreed to work with the PLO provided they stop all terror and violence, thus, it granted limited self-rule in the Gaza strip and Jericho. This also included a mutual pledge to work for a permanent peace agreement. In 1995, the second Oslo Accord was agreed upon and the Declaration of Principles was signed and was regarded as the start towards peace. At this time, Israeli police left those areas and the Palestinian Police moved in.
Israel: 2000 - Today
Unsettled Peace
Today, there is terror and violence committed by the Arabs which is in violation of the Oslo accords and prevents a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The instability, warfare, and mistrust are increasing between Israel and the Arabs, especially within Israel's own border there is discord and strife as the Arab populations is incited by its leaders to celebrate terror and violence and honor suicide bombers. It appears that under the present conditions the Arabs and Israelis cannot live together. Only time will reveal what the final solution truly is to this situation and what is in store for this land.
A possible solution is to transfer all the Arabs to the over 120,000 square km. of land confiscated by the Arab countries from the million Jewish families terrorized and expelled from Arab countries who now were resettled in Israel.
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