Israel
The Merneptah Stele, an ancient Egyptian monument dated to the late 13th century BCE, bears the earliest known archaeological reference to Israel as a collective entity. This artifact predates biblical narratives and confirms that a group called Israel existed in the Levant during the Bronze Age collapse. The Ubeidiya prehistoric site in northern Israel reveals archaic human presence dating back approximately 1.5 million years. A fossil from Misliya Cave on Mount Carmel provides evidence of anatomically modern humans outside Africa around 200,000 years ago. The Natufian culture emerged around 10,000 BCE and adopted sedentism before agriculture became widespread. Ancient Canaanite city-states formed politically independent units by 2000 BCE. During the Late Bronze Age, large parts of Canaan functioned as vassal states under Egypt's New Kingdom. After the collapse of Egyptian control, the region descended into chaos. Modern scholars suggest the Israelites branched out from Canaanite peoples through the development of a distinct monolatristic religion centered on Yahweh. They spoke an archaic form of Hebrew known as Biblical Hebrew. The Philistines settled on the southern coastal plain around the same time. Most historians agree the Exodus narrative did not occur exactly as described in religious texts, though some elements have historical roots. High settlement patterns in the highlands suggest a transition from pastoral to agricultural life. By 900 BCE, the northern Kingdom of Israel existed with its capital at Samaria. The Kingdom of Judah followed by 850 BCE with Jerusalem as its center. The population of the region reached approximately 400,000 during Iron Age II. King Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple in 587/6 BCE after a revolt in Judah. He exiled much of the Judean elite to Babylon. Cyrus the Great issued a proclamation allowing exiled Judeans to return after capturing Babylon in 539 BCE. Construction of the Second Temple was completed shortly thereafter. Alexander the Great conquered the region in 332 BCE as part of his campaign against the Achaemenid Empire. Under Hellenistic rule, cultural tensions culminated under Antiochus IV, triggering the Maccabean Revolt in 167 BCE. By 142/141 BCE, the Hasmoneans secured autonomy and established an independent Jewish kingdom. The Roman siege of Jerusalem ended the Hasmonean civil war in 63 BCE. Herod the Great became a dynastic vassal of Rome in 37 BCE following the Roman, Parthian Wars. In 6 CE, the area was annexed as the Roman province of Judaea. Tensions led to the First Jewish, Roman War from 66 to 73 CE, resulting in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple. A second uprising known as the Bar Kokhba revolt occurred between 132 and 136 CE. Romans brutally crushed this rebellion, devastating and depopulating Judea's countryside. Jerusalem was rebuilt as a Roman colony named Aelia Capitolina. The province of Judea was renamed Syria Palaestina by Emperor Hadrian. Jews were expelled from districts surrounding Jerusalem. Nevertheless, a continuous small Jewish presence remained, with Galilee becoming its religious center.
The first wave of modern Jewish migration to Ottoman-ruled Palestine began in 1881, as Jews fled pogroms in Eastern Europe. Political Zionism took form during the late 19th century, seeking to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. Antisemitism, pogroms, and official policies in tsarist Russia led to the emigration of three million Jews between 1882 and 1914. Only one percent of those who left went to Palestine. Those who did go were driven primarily by ideas of self-determination and Jewish identity rather than economic insecurity. The Second Aliyah started after the Kishinev pogrom, bringing some 40,000 Jews to Palestine. Nearly half eventually left. Both waves consisted mainly of Orthodox Jews. Zionist socialist groups established the kibbutz movement based on creating a separate Jewish economy using exclusively Jewish labor. Tel Aviv became the first planned Jewish town in 1909. Jewish armed militias emerged during this period, starting with Bar-Giora in 1907. Two years later, Hashomer was founded as its replacement. Chaim Weizmann secured the Balfour Declaration of 1917, stating Britain's support for a Jewish national home in Palestine. In 1918, the Jewish Legion assisted British conquest of Palestine. In 1920, territory was divided between Britain and France under the mandate system. Arab opposition to British rule and Jewish immigration led to the 1920 Palestine riots. A Jewish militia known as Haganah formed from Hashomer. The Third Aliyah brought an additional 100,000 Jews to Palestine between 1919 and 1923. The Fourth Aliyah followed from 1924 to 1929. Rising Nazism and persecution in 1930s Europe caused the Fifth Aliyah, bringing a quarter million Jews. This influx triggered the Arab revolt of 1936, 39, suppressed by British security forces and Zionist militias. Five thousand three hundred Arabs were killed, fourteen thousand seven hundred sixty wounded, and twelve thousand six hundred twenty-two detained. An estimated ten percent of adult male Palestinian Arab population suffered death, injury, imprisonment, or exile. Britain introduced restrictions on Jewish immigration with the White Paper of 1939. Clandestine movement Aliyah Bet organized transport of Jewish refugees despite global refusal to accept them. By end of World War II, thirty-one percent of Palestine's population was Jewish. UK faced Jewish insurgency over immigration limits and continued conflict with Arab community. Haganah joined Irgun and Lehi in armed struggle against British rule. On the 22nd of July 1946, Irgun bombed British administrative headquarters killing ninety-one people. Attack responded to Operation Agatha raids including one on Jewish Agency. Deadliest directed at British during Mandate era. Jewish insurgency peaked in July 1947 with guerrilla raids culminating in Sergeants affair where Irgun took two British sergeants hostage. After executions carried out, Irgun killed soldiers hanged bodies from trees leaving booby trap injuring another soldier. Incident caused widespread outrage in UK. September 1947 British cabinet decided evacuate Palestine as mandate no longer tenable. the 29th of November 1947 General Assembly adopted Resolution 181 assigning fifty-five to fifty-six percent Mandatory Palestine to Jews. At time Jews accounted about third population owning six to seven percent land. Arabs constituted majority owning twenty percent remainder held by Mandate authorities or foreign owners. Arab League rejected partition plan privileging European interests over Palestinians. the 1st of December 1947 Arab Higher Committee proclaimed three-day strike riots broke Jerusalem. Situation spiraled civil war Colonial Secretary Arthur Creech Jones announced British Mandate would end the 15th of May 1948.
David Ben-Gurion declared establishment of Jewish state Eretz-Israel day before expiration British Mandate the 14th of May 1948. Following day armies four Arab countries Egypt Syria Transjordan Iraq entered what had been Mandatory Palestine launching 1948 Arab, Israeli War. Contingents Yemen Morocco Saudi Arabia Sudan joined war purpose invasion prevent establishment Jewish state. A week before armies marched Ahmed Shukeiry described aim elimination Jewish state. Al-Quwwatli told people army entered win eradicate Zionism. Arab League stated invasion restore order prevent further bloodshed. Year fighting ceasefire declared temporary borders Green Line established Jordan annexed West Bank including East Jerusalem Egypt occupied Gaza Strip. Over seven hundred thousand Palestinians fled expelled Zionist militias Israeli military known Nakba catastrophe events led destruction most Palestine's Arab culture identity national aspirations. One hundred fifty-six thousand Arabs remained became Arab citizens Israel. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 273 admitted Israel member UN the 11th of May 1949. Early years Labour Zionist movement led Prime Minister Ben-Gurion dominated Israeli politics. Immigration late 1940s early 1950s aided Israeli Immigration Department Mossad LeAliyah Bet Institute for Immigration B engaged clandestine operations Middle East Eastern Europe where lives Jews danger exit difficult. Mossad disbanded 1953. Immigration followed One Million Plan some immigrants held Zionist beliefs came promise better life others moved escape persecution expelled homes. Influx Holocaust survivors Jews Arab Muslim countries first three years increased number Jews seven hundred thousand fourteen hundred thousand. By 1958 population rose two million. Between 1948 and 1970 approximately one million one hundred fifty thousand Jewish refugees relocated Israel. Some arrived refugees housed temporary camps ma'abarot. By 1952 over two hundred thousand people lived tent cities. Jews European background often treated favorably Jews Middle Eastern North African countries housing units reserved latter redesignated former newly arrived Arab lands generally stayed longer transit camps. Period food clothes furniture rationed austerity period need solve crisis led Ben-Gurion sign reparations agreement West Germany triggered mass protests Jews angered idea Israel accept monetary compensation Holocaust.
Further expulsions Palestinians occurred establishment Israel. During 1950s Israel frequently attacked Palestinian fedayeen nearly always civilians mainly Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip leading several Israeli reprisal operations. 1956 UK France aimed regaining control Suez Canal Egypt nationalized. Continued blockade Straits Tiran Israeli shipping together increasing fedayeen attacks southern population recent Arab threatening statements prompted Israel attack Egypt. Israel joined secret alliance UK France overrun Sinai Peninsula Suez Crisis pressured withdraw UN return guarantees Israeli shipping rights war resulted significant reduction border infiltration. Early 1960s Israel captured Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann Argentina brought trial Israel. Eichmann remains only person executed Israel conviction civilian court. 1963 Israel engaged diplomatic standoff United States relation Israeli nuclear programme. Since 1964 Arab countries concerned Israeli plans divert waters Jordan River coastal plain trying divert headwaters deprive Israel water resources provoking tensions Syria Lebanon. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser refused recognize Israel called destruction May 1967 Egypt massed army near border Israel expelled UN peacekeepers stationed Sinai Peninsula since 1957 blocked Israel access Red Sea. Other Arab states mobilized forces Israel reiterated actions casus belli launched pre-emptive strike Operation Focus against Egypt June. Jordan Syria Iraq attacked Israel. Six-Day War Israel captured occupied West Bank Jordan Gaza Strip Sinai Peninsula Egypt Golan Heights Syria. Israeli forces expelled approximately three hundred thousand Palestinians Gaza Strip West Bank. Jerusalem boundaries enlarged incorporating East Jerusalem. 1949 Green Line became administrative boundary between Israel occupied territories. Following 1967 Three Nos resolution Arab League Israel faced attacks Egyptians Sinai Peninsula during 1967, 1970 War Attrition Palestinian groups targeting Israelis occupied territories globally Israel. Palestine Liberation Organisation established 1964 initially committed armed struggle way liberate homeland. Late 1960s early 1970s Palestinian groups launched attacks Israeli Jewish targets worldwide including massacre Israeli athletes 1972 Summer Olympics Munich. Israeli government responded assassination campaign organisers bombing raid PLO headquarters Lebanon. the 6th of October 1973 Egyptian Syrian armies launched surprise attack Israeli forces Sinai Peninsula Golan Heights opening Yom Kippur War. War ended October 25 Israel repelling Egyptian Syrian forces suffering great losses. Internal inquiry exonerated government responsibility failures before during war public anger forced Prime Minister Golda Meir resign. the 27th of June 1976 Air France Flight 139 hijacked flight Israel France Palestinian guerrillas. Israeli commandos rescued one hundred two of one hundred six Israeli hostages days later. November 1995 Rabin assassinated Yigal Amir far-right Jew opposed Accords. Benjamin Netanyahu premiership end 1990s Israel agreed withdraw Hebron never ratified implemented signed Wye River Memorandum agreement dealt further redeployments West Bank security issues memorandum criticised major international human rights organisations encouragement human rights abuses. Ehud Barak elected prime minister 1999 withdrew forces southern Lebanon conducted negotiations PNA Chairman Yasser Arafat U.S. President Bill Clinton 2000 Camp David Summit. Barak offered plan establishment Palestinian state including entirety Gaza Strip over ninety percent West Bank Jerusalem shared capital. Each side blamed other failure talks.
Late 2000 after controversial visit Sharon Temple Mount Second Intifada began popular uprising faced disproportionate repression Israeli state. Israel's disproportionate response young unarmed men confronting Israeli soldiers armed lethal weapons fuelled Intifada beyond control turned all-out war. Palestinian suicide bombings developed recurrent feature intifada period significantly differs historical periods characterized intensive numerous suicide attacks made civilian life battlefront. Between 2000 and 2008, one thousand sixty-three Israelis five thousand five hundred seventeen Palestinians sixty-four foreign citizens killed. July 2006 Hezbollah artillery assault Israel northern border communities cross-border abduction two Israeli soldiers precipitated month-long Second Lebanon War including Israeli invasion Lebanon. War wound down August 2006 passage United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701; Israeli forces mostly withdrew Lebanon October 2006 continued occupy Lebanese portion Ghajar village. 2007 Israeli Air Force destroyed nuclear reactor Syria. 2008 ceasefire Hamas Israel collapsed resulting three-week Gaza War. What Israel described response over hundred Palestinian rocket attacks southern Israeli cities Israel began operation Gaza Strip 2012 lasting eight days. Israel started another operation Gaza following escalation rocket attacks Hamas July 2014. May 2021 round fighting took place Gaza Israel lasting eleven days. By 2010s increasing regional cooperation Israel Arab League countries established culminating signing Abraham Accords. Israeli security situation shifted traditional Arab, Israeli conflict Iran-Israel proxy conflict direct confrontation Iran during Syrian civil war. the 7th of October 2023 Palestinian militant groups Gaza led Hamas launched series coordinated attacks Israel leading start Gaza war. Day approximately thirteen hundred Israelis predominantly civilians killed communities near Gaza Strip border music festival. Over two hundred hostages kidnapped taken Gaza Strip. Studies modeling trauma exposure assessing mental health outcomes estimated five point three percent Israelis develop PTSD national data showing probable PTSD nearly doubled sixteen point two percent twenty-nine point eight percent rates anxiety depression rising sharply. After clearing militants territory Israel launched one most destructive bombing campaigns modern history invaded Gaza October 27 stated objectives destroying Hamas freeing hostages fifth war Gaza-Israel conflict since 2008 deadliest Palestinians entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict significant military engagement region since Yom Kippur War 1973. United Nations Special Committee multiple governments various experts human rights organisations concluded Israel committing genocide Palestinian people harm loss life inflicted civilians during Gaza War. April 2024 Israel initiated wave airstrikes Iran after Iranian strikes targeted Israel marking 2024 Iran-Israel conflict first time countries ever directly exchanged fire. October 2024 Israel invaded Lebanon exchanged missile barrages Iran three weeks later response Iranian strikes earlier month. Nearly year Israel-Hezbollah conflict from October 2023 due Hezbollah shooting rockets Israel support Hamas Israel assassinated Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah September 2024. November 2024 ceasefire agreement instructed Israel withdraw Lebanon Israel mostly did February 2025 against agreement Israeli forces stayed five military outposts highlands Southern Lebanon. June 2025 Israel launched renewed series airstrikes Iran targeting air defence systems missile launchers military leadership nuclear programme escalated full-scale war.
Israel has one Middle East's largest economies highest living standards Asia globally ranks twenty-sixth nominal GDP fourteenth nominal GDP per capita. One world's most technologically advanced countries allocates larger share economy research development any other state believed possess nuclear weapons. Forests accounted eight point five percent area 2016 up two percent 1948 result large-scale forest planting programme Jewish National Fund. Israel developed various water-saving technologies including drip irrigation considerable sunlight available solar energy makes Israel leading nation solar energy use per capita practically every house uses solar panels water heating Ministry Environmental Protection reported climate change decisive impact areas life particularly vulnerable populations. Population density varies widely across regions coastal plain home majority population. Negev desert south inland fertile Jezreel Valley mountain ranges Galilee Carmel Golan north. Jordan Rift Valley small part Great Rift Valley runs Mount Hermon Hulah Valley Sea Galilee Dead Sea lowest point Earth surface further south Arabah ending Gulf Eilat part Red Sea. Makhtesh erosion cirques unique Negev Sinai Peninsula largest being Makhtesh Ramon thirty-eight kilometers length. Largest number plant species square metre Mediterranean Basin contains four terrestrial ecoregions Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests Southern Anatolian montane conifer deciduous forests Arabian Desert Mesopotamian shrub desert. Two thousand eight hundred sixty-seven known species plants Israel at least two hundred fifty-three introduced non-native three hundred eighty Israeli nature reserves. Tectonic movements within Dead Sea Transform fault system lead relatively high seismic activity entire Jordan Valley segment thought ruptured repeatedly instance last two major earthquakes structure 749 1033 deficit slip built since 1033 sufficient cause earthquake approximately seven point four most catastrophic known earthquakes occurred 31 BCE 363 749 1033 CE average every four hundred years destructive earthquakes strike about every eighty years causing serious loss life stringent construction regulations recently built structures earthquake resistant many public buildings fifty thousand residential buildings did not meet new standards expected collapse exposed strong earthquake.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When was the earliest known archaeological reference to Israel found?
The Merneptah Stele, an ancient Egyptian monument dated to the late 13th century BCE, bears the earliest known archaeological reference to Israel as a collective entity. This artifact predates biblical narratives and confirms that a group called Israel existed in the Levant during the Bronze Age collapse.
What happened to Jerusalem after King Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed it in 587/6 BCE?
King Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple in 587/6 BCE after a revolt in Judah. He exiled much of the Judean elite to Babylon before Cyrus the Great issued a proclamation allowing exiled Judeans to return after capturing Babylon in 539 BCE.
How many Jews migrated to Palestine during the Fifth Aliyah between 1930s Europe and World War II?
Rising Nazism and persecution in 1930s Europe caused the Fifth Aliyah, bringing a quarter million Jews. This influx triggered the Arab revolt of 1936, 39, which was suppressed by British security forces and Zionist militias.
When did David Ben-Gurion declare the establishment of the Jewish state Eretz-Israel?
David Ben-Gurion declared establishment of Jewish state Eretz-Israel day before expiration British Mandate the 14th of May 1948. Following day armies four Arab countries Egypt Syria Transjordan Iraq entered what had been Mandatory Palestine launching 1948 Arab, Israeli War.
What were the results of the Six-Day War that began on June 5 1967?
Israel captured occupied West Bank Jordan Gaza Strip Sinai Peninsula Egypt Golan Heights Syria during the Six-Day War. Israeli forces expelled approximately three hundred thousand Palestinians from Gaza Strip and West Bank while Jerusalem boundaries enlarged incorporating East Jerusalem.
What occurred during the October 2023 attacks led by Hamas against Israel?
On the 7th of October 2023 Palestinian militant groups Gaza led Hamas launched series coordinated attacks Israel leading start Gaza war. Day approximately thirteen hundred Israelis predominantly civilians killed communities near Gaza Strip border music festival and over two hundred hostages kidnapped taken Gaza Strip.