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Israel
Located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is the only Jewish-majority state in the world. It has a total land area of 22,072 sq km with an estimated population of approximately 7.7 million as of 2010.
6,421 Questions
When did the Ottoman Empire take control of Israel?
The Ottoman Empire conquered the territory that currently composes Israel from the Mamluks in 1517 and lost it 1919.
Why did the USSR become involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict?
There are a variety of reasons:
1) Strategic Intelligence: The Israeli Intelligence Agency Mossad is one of the foremost such organizations in the world. The United States wishes to have cooperation with this agency to a good degree to be able to monitor threats against itself.
2) Cold War Rivalry: The Soviet Union began to support the Arabs, so the United States supported Israel as a way to wage a proxy war.
3) Similar Cultures: The United States wished to defend a similar free, democratic state in the Middle East.
4) Economic and Technological Exchanges: Israel, as a first world country, had a lot that it could trade with the United States in terms of goods services.
5) Middle East Control: As Israel became the dominant regional power in the Middle East, the United States weighed having an Alliance with Israel critical for maintaining the balance of power.
6) Jewish and Evangelical Constituencies: Both of these constituencies wish for the American Government to support a Jewish government in Israel and physically occupy very contentious electoral areas.
Did Israel signed the universal declaration of human rights?
yeah, but it was censored from many schools because some clauses disagree with Jewish traditions.
Is israel one of the smallest countries?
Yes, it is the 153rd in size. The great majority of countries smaller than Israel are island-nations.
What will be the end result of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?
As this is forecasting, there are different opinions.
Answer 1
Historically, Israel has won all the wars or other military engagements in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the conflict has not yet been resolved. Additionally, the Qur'an shows that the Jews will be victorious in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Verses 5:20-21 indicate that as long as the people shepherded by Moses (i.e. the Children of Israel) defend the land, they will be victorious, else they will be losers. It is likely that Israel will remain the dominant power in this relationship.
Answer 2
Israel will prevail.
Why did Arabs go to Palestine?
Answer
The Arab Rashidun Caliphate conquered the Levant in 634-638 C.E. The Arabs who led this conquest did so because they could (see "Right to Conquest" below) and they perceived that doing this was their duty as pious Muslims.
However, not many Arabs actually moved to Palestine during the Caliphate period. Egypt and Mesopotamia were far more attractive for those Arabs who wished to leave Arabia, and those who wished to leave Arabia (and abandon what their families had known for generations) were rare anyway. Those who did go usually went in order to perform bureaucratic or government functions. During the period of Arab Caliphates, non-Arab peoples in Palestine, such as Phoenicians, Canaanites, Samaritans, etc. began to convert to Islam and consider themselves Levantine Arabs. In this way, the Arabs did not move to Palestine en masse, but the masses in Palestine chose to become Arabs.
More recently, during the late 1800s in Ottoman Palestine up through the British Mandate period, the increasing immigration of Zionist Jews led to increasing number of nascent business, improved hygiene, and increased carrying capacity of Palestine. This drew in Levantine Arabs from surrounding areas as well as permitting the indigenous population to multiply.
Discussion on "Right to Conquest"
Historically, there was the "Right to Conquest" which was a pervasive idea in political thought. The idea was that it was natural for any country or state to grow and control more territory as it grew stronger. This allowed weaker states to dissolve in place of ones that were better run, a bureaucratic version of "survival of the fittest". The "Right to Conquest" prevailed as the dominant theory of nation-building until the mid-1800s when people started bringing up the concept of self-sovereignty and ethnic nationalism, which held the idea that people should govern themselves even if they are not the most powerful in the world. This view of state sovereignty has become dominant today and the Right to Conquest is seen as incorrect.
Since the Caliphates existed well within the Right to Conquest Period, the Caliphs did not have to assert a reason to conquer neighboring territories in Southwest Asia. It was their natural prerogative
What group did not fight against the State of Israel in the Six Day War?
The list is long and diverse. It includes all of the following and, believe it or not,
also many more others as well:
- National Rifle Association (NRA)
- Federated States of Micronesia
- American Automobile Association (AAA)
- National Society of Professional Engineers
- AFL/CIO
- Trinidad and Tobago
- American Jewish Congress (AJC)
- Farmers Insurance Group
- Airline Pilots' Association
- American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
- National Basketball Association (NBA)
- Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
- McClatchy Group
- Tribune Group
- Organization of American States (OAS)
- Rabbinical Council of America (RCA)
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- Orthodox Union (OU)
- Chicago Public School (CPS
- The Marshall Islands
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Boy Scouts of America
- AARP
- The Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons)
- League of Nations
- ACLU
- DAR
- GOP
- NLRB
- IAEA
- FCC
- VFW
- National Society of Professional Engineers (I'm quite well aware that this item is a repeat on the list. The NSPE, of which this contributor is a proud former member, to its credit ... possibly due to this contributor's influence, I don't know ... has the distinction that it has not fought against the State of Israel twice.)
- Grand Army of the Confederacy
- International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- American Petroleum Institute (API)
- Amoco Production Company
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- IBEW (especially Local 110)
- National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
- Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)
- Jewish Telegraphic Agency
- American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
- Intel Corporation
Why do the Israelis and the Palestinians both want the Gaza Strip?
The Israelis believe it is rightfully theirs according to the Biblical land of Israel, but the UN-recognized border goes outside it, so the Palestinians want to have it as their own nation.
The previous opinion is incorrect. Israelis do not actually want the Gaza Strip, specifically because it is NOT part of the Biblical Land of Israel (Gaza is recognized to be part of the Philistine State in Biblical Times). The reason that there is conflict in Gaza is that Israel believes that the regime in Gaza is hard-set on the destruction of Israel. Palestinians do want the Gaza Strip, as explained by the previous opinion, so that they can have their own country.
Why did Israel invade Lebanon from 1981-1982?
Several Lebanese militant groups, such as the PLO, began to fire rockets into Northern Israel in 1981 and 1982. Israel finally responded by entering the Lebanese Civil War which was going on concurrently with the aim of removing such militant groups from Lebanon.
Why is the Arab-Israeli Conflict difficult to solve?
Answer 1
The problem is that both sides have legitimacy in certain claims and extremists who would rather derail the process of negotiations than not get everything in their wishlists. The Israelis and the Palestinians who truly want to live together in peace respecting each others' Rights to Exist have had to consistently those who would rather stir up antagonism and hatred on both sides.
Arab Answer
Simply, because of the Arab lands occupied by the Israelis. The Arabs, through the Arab League made the initiative that Israelis withdraw from the Arab lands occupied in war 1967 and all the Arab States start political, economic and diplomatic relations with Israel. However, the Israelis ignored the initiative completely.
Israeli Answer
The above answer is disingenuous about what the Arab League Initiative represents and while it does say that all Arab nations will have peaceful and diplomatic relations with the State of Israel at its conclusion, the Initiative does not provide for major Israeli concerns. The foremost of these concerns is that not every Palestinian can live in the Jewish State of Israel. Doing this would remove its Jewish Character and make Israel a de facto Arab State. This is a non-starter. The Arabs are to be commended for making a great compromise, but they refused to negotiate any terms in the Saudi Peace Initiative and made it a "take it or leave it" deal. This inability of the Arabs to seriously mind Israeli concerns and be open to a full negotiation is the reason why the Initiative failed, not an unwillingness of the Israelis to accept peace.
However, the Arabs are not the only ones furthering the conflict. The Israeli government currently is belligerent and encourages settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, hampering the peace process. On the flip side, Gaza is run by the Militant Terrorist Organization Hamas which constantly attacks Israel and is not interested in fruitful negotiations. Both sides are at fault for the current rounds of fighting, but the bottom line is that at the end of the day, most Israelis and Palestinians in the former British Mandate of Palestine realize that a Two-State Solution is the only one that is viable. It is Jews and Arabs outside of this area who still demand total victory for their side.
Answer 3
Religion. Jews and Muslims don't like each other.
Answer 4
Many years ago the region of Palestine had Jews, Christians, and Muslims with relatively minimal violence.
Lots of Jews in other countries were being pushed out because people were jealous of their wealth or just wanted their farms, so certain politicians and rulers who believed that the bible was true decided to allow some of the Jews to live in Palestine.
Those who arrived in Palestine decided that, as this was their home, more Jews should live there.
In 1948 the politicians in other countries agreed to split Palestine into separate areas for Jews and Palestinians, this started a war between the Palestinians and the Jews which the Jews won.
Ever since that time the Jews, (Israelis), have been pushing out the Palestinians, (mostly Muslims), from their land and the other Muslim states have been helping the Palestinians.
Additional Information
There are many additional reasons. Please see the Related Question to read about the Causes of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, many of which have not yet been resolved.
Why did Israel become divided?
Answer
This happened over the issue of taxes. See 1 Kings 12. This is the story of how Israel became divided.
After Solomon's death, the people approached his son Rehav'am (Rehoboam) and asked that he now lower the tax. He ignored the counsel of his elder advisers and refused the people's request. This led the Ten Tribes to turn away from him (1 Kings ch.12).
Christian Answer
Actually in Hosea we discover that the "house" of Israel God divorced and their identity was absorbed into the kingdom of Judah described as the "children" of Israel (Hosea 1:4-11) in which Christ is the head.
If you are referring to ancient times; King Solomon became idolatrous and cruel in his old age. After his death the Israelites asked his successor, Rehoboam, to be easier on them. Rehoboam took bad advice and refused,, so the majority of the tribes ceded from his rulership and came under the rulership of his rival Jeroboam. Then Israel was split into the nation of Judah , in the south, and the nation of Israel , in the north.
Who was the first king of a united Israel?
Jeroboam
AnswerAccording to the Bible, Jeroboam was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, reigning after the split in the United Monarchy in 925 BCE.However, there is a developing scholarly consensus that there was no United Monarchy as described in the Bible, and that Omri was probably the first real king of Israel. Omri ruled from 876 to 869 BCE (another estimate: 884-872).
Personal liberty laws:
- Laws passed by north states forbidding the imprisonment of escaped slaves.
What inventions were made by the Ancient Israelites?
There are no famous inventions (in term of mechanical devices) made by the Ancient Israelites, though in modern times they have been involved with inventing the laser, the pacemaker and defibrillator, genetic engineering, stainless steel, mass-engergy equivalence (Einstein), Cholera and Bubonic Plague vaccines, Polio vaccine, nuclear weapons, and Google (founders are Jewish).
How did Judaism spread to Israel?
Even those who claim that the Judaism evolved and developed are in agreement that Judaism had developed for the most part prior to creation of the Diaspora and the Spreading of the Religion. The real changes occurred after the Destruction of Temple in Jerusalem the first time in 586 BCE and were solidified after the Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. By the mid 100s CE, Judaism was defined more or less by the laws and ideals it currently has. Judaism spread geographically within the next few centuries as Jews were exiled from their ancestral homeland.
The main change in the latter period was the ending of sacrifices and the rising of Rabbis to deal with all religious matters as opposed to being just scholars. However, this was settled soon after 70 CE.
Answer:
Judaism has evolved as circumstances have necessitated. Here are just a few examples:
1) After the end of prophecy (some 2350 years ago), the Tanakh was sealed by a special Sanhedrin (Rabbinical court). It was the same Sanhedrin which placed our prayers in their permanent form (see Talmud, Berakhot 33a).
2) Purim and Hanukkah were instituted after the relevant events.
3) Certain fasts were instituted in connection with the Destruction of the Temple.
4) After the Destruction, the laws of sacrifices were suspended.
5) When circumstances made it impossible, the New Moon was no longer proclaimed by testimony; rather, the fixed calendar was instituted (around 360 CE).
6) The Talmud was put in writing (around 500 CE) when it became too hard to be learned by heart.
7) There are seven formal Rabbinical commands. These are:
Saying the blessings over food (and on various occasions)
Washing one's hands before eating bread
Lighting the Hanukkah-menorah
The Eruv
Saying the Hallel prayer on certain occasions
Lighting the Sabbath candles
Reading the Megillat Esther on Purim.
In addition, there are many Rabbinical decrees, mostly from the Men of the Great Assembly (4th century BCE), as well as later enactments. The purpose of every one of these is to provide a "fence around the Torah," meaning to shore up something that can benefit from strengthening. An example: not handling electric appliances on the Sabbath, even if they are not connected to any electric socket.
Why were many Arabs apposed to the balfour declaration?
The Balfour Declaration of 1917 states that the UK supported to establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. Since Palestine was largely Muslim (including many Arabian Muslims), many Arabians opposed establishing a state for European Jews in an area largely inhabited by Muslims (both those descended from ancient Jews that converted to Islam and other Muslims that had immigrated there over the centuries.
What impact did the formation of Israel have upon the Arab people of that land?
On the one hand, many Arab people were displaced, whether deliberately by the Jewish fighters and settlers, or by the Arabs' own decision. Many felt disenfranchised.
On the other hand, the living standard of Arabs in Israel is significntly higher than in Arab and Muslim countries. Israel has brought employment and modern conveniences to the entire population. Those who have chosen to be Israeli citizens have many towns and villages, and own very many businesses throughout the country. Here in the Galilee region, Arabs and Jews live in close proximity and generally get along well.
Where did the Arab-Israeli War of 1973 take place?
On Yom Kippur in 1973 Egyptian forces attacked the Bar-Lev line( set up by the Israeli army after the conquest of the Sinai peninsula by Israel in 1967). The Egyptians had initial success but were eventually pushed back by Israeli forces led by General Sharon. At the time of the UN mandated cease fire the Israeli army had crossed the Suez canal and were on the Eastern shore of the Suez canal.
They were established by Israel as a counterbalance to the PLO.
Meanwhile, back on Earth . . .
Based on the principles of Islamic fundamentalism gaining momentum throughout
the Arab world in the 1980s, Hamas was founded in 1987 (during the First Intifada)
as an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. Co-founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin
stated in 1987 and the Hamas Charter affirmed in 1988 that Hamas was founded to
liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation and to establish an Islamic state in the area
that is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
What country was the first to recognize Israel as a Jewish state?
The Soviet Union was the first country to recognize Israel on May 17, 1948, less than a week after the Israeli Declaration of Independence.
When the Israeli leadership pushes for Arab countries to recognize Israel as a Jewish State, what they actually mean is that want the Arab countries not just to recognize the Israeli government, but the right for Israel to be primarily Jewish State. A number of Arabs outside of government make a sort-of-work-around for accepting Israel in that they accept Israel as a country controlling a certain piece of planet, but believe all of the Palestinians who used to live there and all of their descendants should be allowed to return. If this happened Israel would become an Arab majority country and defeat the entire purpose of Zionism (the belief that there should be a Jewish State) and Israel's existence. As a result, Israeli leadership presses the Arabs to recognize Israel as it is, not Israel as they would like it.
In the case of the USSR, which recognized Israel first, the USSR was quite willing to recognize Israel according to the tenets of Zionism, so although the term "recognize Israel as a Jewish State" was not used, the intent was the one desired by those who use those magic words.
Why did the Zionism opposed the creation of a Jewish state in palestine?
Some Orthodox Jews did not approve of the modern nation of Israel, because it was created by humans via the United Nations. It was not directly created by God. Most Jews have no problem with the modern nation of Israel, and those Orthodox Jews are in the minority as far as most Jews are concerned.
What happened in the Arab-Israeli war of 1948?
The Arab-Israeli Conflict existed long before 1948 and actually entered a violent stage as early as 1921. In 1948, however, Israel declared Independence which caused the internal Jewish-Arab Engagements to escalate into an international war when Arab Nations declared war on Israel.
To see a discussion of causes for the Arab-Israeli Conflict, see the related question below.
Why was palestine divided into two countries?
In 1947 the united nations voted to divide Palestine into a Jewish and a Arab state. while arab counries rejected this plan, the Jews accepted it, and a year later created the state of Israel.
Who is right Israel or Palestine?
Israel is Israel and Palestine is Palestine. Confusion occurs because both things refer to an extant piece of land with people living on it, a nationality, an ethnicity, and a prior piece of land which no longer exists.
Israel is a Jewish State that contains territory from the former British Mandate of Palestine. The remainder of the British Mandate of Palestine belongs to the modern Palestinian State. Israel is a majority Jewish population who returned from their Exile in Europe and the Middle East. Palestinians are a majority Arab population whose families lived in the region for centuries. Palestinians did not simply become Israelis (except for those who did not flee during the Israeli-Arab War of 1948-9) or vice versa.
If the question is asking why Israel exists where Palestine formerly existed, the premise is faulty. Palestine was the name that the British assigned to that piece of land regardless of its history. Prior to the British, the Ottomans administered Palestine as three distinct regions: Vilayet of Beirut (which included Lebanon and northern Israel), the Vilayet of Damascus (which included Syria, Jordan, and southern Israel), and the Mutasaffirat of Jerusalem (which included central Israel and the Palestinian Territories). The name had nothing to do with the previous administration or the indigenous peoples.
As a result, when the Palestinian Jews declared independence, they chose to call their country according to how they see themselves. This is no different than how the British colony of Rhodesia in Africa became independent as Zambia in the north and Zimbabwe in the south. Since the British name was unconnected to the people on that land, the people reasserted their own identity. Since the Palestinian Arabs did not have a unique identity prior to Israeli independence, they continued to use the term Palestinian to describe their experience.
