The beginning of the conflict between the Israelites and Arabs commenced millenniums ago. The most important aspect out of thousands of years of history that remains the key cause of the conflict today is the location. All Israelites were supposedly descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who migrated to Canaan, the promised or holy land of the Jews. The Jews were expelled and returned a few times over the next few centuries before they were finally driven out by the Romans and the Diaspora, or spread, of the Jews occurred. The Jewish people would spend over two thousand years under the oppression of majority groups throughout Europe, awaiting an opportunity to return.
However, much to their inconvenience, many other religions have claims over the region—more so for the city of Jerusalem—including Muslims who believed Muhammad died there and also Christians who believed Jesus spent a large portion of his life there, and it is also where the Last Supper took place. The major conflicting groups they would face with would be from the Arabs who were in control of the area by the time the Jews were finally ready to return in the late-1800s all the way to the mid-1900s.
This era of demand by the Jews for the return of their people to Jerusalem was ushered in by the Zionist Movement, a nationalist push for the reestablishment of the Jewish homeland in the Land of Israel. Zionism emerged in the late 19th century largely due to anti-Semitic views, discriminations, and prosecution in Europe. The Zionist Movement never gained much momentum until, ironically, after the Holocaust of World War II. The world was baffled by the atrocities the Nazi Party committed upon millions of innocent Jews. This sense of compassion, sympathy, and duty to pay the Jewish people back for all they’ve lost allowed for, finally, the creation of the State of Israel.
However, the Jewish people moving in also meant for a mass expulsion of Arabs who lived there during the time. In addition, the religious aspect in which both sides claimed Canaan as a sacred territory further sparked hatred between the two sides. Immediately after the declaration of the creation of the State of Israel, the first Arab-Israeli War began in May 1948. Israel was able to hold off the attack and sign an armistice. Arab states, for the next half a century would continue to try to impede on the development of Israel, including blockading the Suez Canal. Israel, being backed by the United States, built a mighty army that could challenge any other country, or even a collection of countries, in the region. In 1967, a preemptive strike allowed Israel to capture more and more land, including the Sinai Peninsula. However, a treaty in 1979 ordered Israel to return the recently captured territory back to Egypt. To this day, Israel remains in conflict with neighboring states.
However, much to their inconvenience, many other religions have claims over the region—more so for the city of Jerusalem—including Muslims who believed Muhammad died there and also Christians who believed Jesus spent a large portion of his life there, and it is also where the Last Supper took place. The major conflicting groups they would face with would be from the Arabs who were in control of the area by the time the Jews were finally ready to return in the late-1800s all the way to the mid-1900s.
This era of demand by the Jews for the return of their people to Jerusalem was ushered in by the Zionist Movement, a nationalist push for the reestablishment of the Jewish homeland in the Land of Israel. Zionism emerged in the late 19th century largely due to anti-Semitic views, discriminations, and prosecution in Europe. The Zionist Movement never gained much momentum until, ironically, after the Holocaust of World War II. The world was baffled by the atrocities the Nazi Party committed upon millions of innocent Jews. This sense of compassion, sympathy, and duty to pay the Jewish people back for all they’ve lost allowed for, finally, the creation of the State of Israel.
However, the Jewish people moving in also meant for a mass expulsion of Arabs who lived there during the time. In addition, the religious aspect in which both sides claimed Canaan as a sacred territory further sparked hatred between the two sides. Immediately after the declaration of the creation of the State of Israel, the first Arab-Israeli War began in May 1948. Israel was able to hold off the attack and sign an armistice. Arab states, for the next half a century would continue to try to impede on the development of Israel, including blockading the Suez Canal. Israel, being backed by the United States, built a mighty army that could challenge any other country, or even a collection of countries, in the region. In 1967, a preemptive strike allowed Israel to capture more and more land, including the Sinai Peninsula. However, a treaty in 1979 ordered Israel to return the recently captured territory back to Egypt. To this day, Israel remains in conflict with neighboring states.