The following is a very short but straight forward synopsis of the history of Palestine. For a much more detailed account, click on the following link:
"The Origin of the Palestine-Israel Conflict."
Historic Palestine
Historically, the land of Palestine was populated by a people known as the Palestinians. Palestinians have always been religiously diverse, with the Muslim majority maintaining friendly relations with their Christian, Jewish, and Druze brethren. At the turn of the 20th Century, a new Jewish nationalist ideology called Zionism was developing. Zionism called for the creation of a Jewish homeland and they considered areas in Africa and the Americas before settling on Palestine. During this time, increasing numbers of Jewish Europeans immigrated to Palestine, causing the Jewish population to grow from a tiny minority to 35% of the population.
UN Partition of Palestine
In 1947, under considerable zionist pressure, the United Nations partitioned Historic Palestine, giving 55% to the Jewish population and 45% to the Palestinian population. The indigenous Palestinians rejected the division of the land on which they had lived and farmed for centuries. At the time of partition, the Jewish population owned less than 6% of Palestine.
1948 Israel, West Bank, and Gaza Strip
In 1948, the state of Israel was established through ethnic cleansing. The plan used to ethnically cleansed the land from Palestinians is known as Plan Dalet. During the war of 1948, Israel stole 78 percent of Palestine, a percentage it has steadily increased in subsequent years, a process of colonization that continues today.
Refugees and Depopulated Villages
Between the time of partition and the declaration of Israel on 78 percent of historic Palestine in 1948, the newly formed Jewish state had depopulated (through massacres, expulsion orders, and fear tactics) over 530 villages and made refugees of at least 726,000 Palestinians.
1967 war and Occupation
In 1967, Israel occupied the remaining 22% of historic Palestine: the West Bank and Gaza (as well as large sections of Syria and Egypt). Since then Israel has transferred many of its citizens to Jewish only “settlements,” (colonies, which are illegal under article 33 of the Geneva Conventions). Today 40% of the West Bank is off-limits to Palestinians, as they are not allowed to live in Israeli settlements, drive on Israeli-only roads connecting these settlements, or even live or travel through “security zones,” surrounding the settlements. Learn more about life under occupation.
Annexation of Jerusalem
Following the 1967 war, Israel created what it calls “Greater Jerusalem.” It did this by expanding the borders of East Jerusalem to include surrounding areas of the West Bank where the Palestinian population was minimal. It annexed this new “Jerusalem,” and declared it to be it’s capitol. Since 1967, Israel has established numerous illegal settlements in this “Greater Jerusalem,” thereby ensuring a Jewish majority in the city. While the municipal government encourages the construction of new Jewish homes in the city, Palestinian families (many of whom have lived in Jerusalem for centuries) are rarely able to acquire the permits necessary to build new homes and are only allowed to live in certain areas of the city due to systematic discrimination against non-Jewish citizens.
Israeli Settlements on Palestinian and Syrian Land
Following the 1967 war, Israel began establishing numerous settlements, or illegal housing developments for Jewish Israelis only on stolen Palestinian land. There are over 120 illegal settlements (colonies) in the West Bank and East Jerusalem housing well over 500,000 israeli settlers.
Settlements are one of the major blockages to a peaceful and just resolution to Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians and other Arabs. The "roadmap" to peace calls on Israel to dismantle these settlements and to return the land to the rightful owners. Unfortunately, Israel continues to expand existing settlements and to build new ones.
Israeli settlers, who are known for their Jewish fundamentalism and desire to take the rest of Palestine (and perhaps even parts of other Arab lands) for Israel, are allowed to carry guns. They travel on israeli only roads, that now crisscross the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinians are not allowed to use these roads.
U.S. Involvement
Largely due to special-interest lobbying, U.S. taxpayers give Israel an average of $8.2 million per day, and since its creation have given more U.S. funds to Israel than to all nations combined. Most of the money comes in the form of military aid.
"The Origin of the Palestine-Israel Conflict."
Historic Palestine
Historically, the land of Palestine was populated by a people known as the Palestinians. Palestinians have always been religiously diverse, with the Muslim majority maintaining friendly relations with their Christian, Jewish, and Druze brethren. At the turn of the 20th Century, a new Jewish nationalist ideology called Zionism was developing. Zionism called for the creation of a Jewish homeland and they considered areas in Africa and the Americas before settling on Palestine. During this time, increasing numbers of Jewish Europeans immigrated to Palestine, causing the Jewish population to grow from a tiny minority to 35% of the population.
UN Partition of Palestine
In 1947, under considerable zionist pressure, the United Nations partitioned Historic Palestine, giving 55% to the Jewish population and 45% to the Palestinian population. The indigenous Palestinians rejected the division of the land on which they had lived and farmed for centuries. At the time of partition, the Jewish population owned less than 6% of Palestine.
1948 Israel, West Bank, and Gaza Strip
In 1948, the state of Israel was established through ethnic cleansing. The plan used to ethnically cleansed the land from Palestinians is known as Plan Dalet. During the war of 1948, Israel stole 78 percent of Palestine, a percentage it has steadily increased in subsequent years, a process of colonization that continues today.
Refugees and Depopulated Villages
Between the time of partition and the declaration of Israel on 78 percent of historic Palestine in 1948, the newly formed Jewish state had depopulated (through massacres, expulsion orders, and fear tactics) over 530 villages and made refugees of at least 726,000 Palestinians.
1967 war and Occupation
In 1967, Israel occupied the remaining 22% of historic Palestine: the West Bank and Gaza (as well as large sections of Syria and Egypt). Since then Israel has transferred many of its citizens to Jewish only “settlements,” (colonies, which are illegal under article 33 of the Geneva Conventions). Today 40% of the West Bank is off-limits to Palestinians, as they are not allowed to live in Israeli settlements, drive on Israeli-only roads connecting these settlements, or even live or travel through “security zones,” surrounding the settlements. Learn more about life under occupation.
Annexation of Jerusalem
Following the 1967 war, Israel created what it calls “Greater Jerusalem.” It did this by expanding the borders of East Jerusalem to include surrounding areas of the West Bank where the Palestinian population was minimal. It annexed this new “Jerusalem,” and declared it to be it’s capitol. Since 1967, Israel has established numerous illegal settlements in this “Greater Jerusalem,” thereby ensuring a Jewish majority in the city. While the municipal government encourages the construction of new Jewish homes in the city, Palestinian families (many of whom have lived in Jerusalem for centuries) are rarely able to acquire the permits necessary to build new homes and are only allowed to live in certain areas of the city due to systematic discrimination against non-Jewish citizens.
Israeli Settlements on Palestinian and Syrian Land
Following the 1967 war, Israel began establishing numerous settlements, or illegal housing developments for Jewish Israelis only on stolen Palestinian land. There are over 120 illegal settlements (colonies) in the West Bank and East Jerusalem housing well over 500,000 israeli settlers.
Settlements are one of the major blockages to a peaceful and just resolution to Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians and other Arabs. The "roadmap" to peace calls on Israel to dismantle these settlements and to return the land to the rightful owners. Unfortunately, Israel continues to expand existing settlements and to build new ones.
Israeli settlers, who are known for their Jewish fundamentalism and desire to take the rest of Palestine (and perhaps even parts of other Arab lands) for Israel, are allowed to carry guns. They travel on israeli only roads, that now crisscross the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinians are not allowed to use these roads.
U.S. Involvement
Largely due to special-interest lobbying, U.S. taxpayers give Israel an average of $8.2 million per day, and since its creation have given more U.S. funds to Israel than to all nations combined. Most of the money comes in the form of military aid.
