Mini History: Jews (1000 BC - Present )

 Israelites emerged in Canaan and Levant which is modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Saul, David, Solomon ruled them, later the whole kingdom was divided into two parts, the kingdom of Israel fell to Assyrian Empire, kingdom of Judah was conquered by Babylonian Empire.

Following Babylonian rule, Jewish were ruled under Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, Ptolemy. In Syrian wars, Ptolemy and Seleucid king battled, Jewish sided with latter and Seleucid rule was established. However, Jewish revolted against Seleucid rule later and established Hasmonian Dynasty. Hasmonian Dynasty was conquered by Romans in 63 BC and Jewish went under Roman rule. In 66 AD temple of Jerusalem was destroyed, city was razed and population was slaughtered by Romans. Towards the end of the Roman empire, Christianity became the dominant religion.

 In the 7^th Century, following the birth of Islam, an Arab Conquest begins. In some cases, Jews support the conquest in the hope of better conditions. They were tolerated by Arabs and only polytheistic people were forcibly converted. However, they were only 5% of the population. In Jerusalem, the Dome of the Rock is built, making the city holy to the three monotheistic religions. In Europe, Jews became the sole traders between Catholics and Muslims. This allows them to gradually establish themselves in all of Western Europe. In the 11^th century the Seljuk Turks, central Asian people, began their expansion and reached Jerusalem. They persecuted Christians and forbade pilgrimages to the city. Christians in Europe, organized crusades, military and religious expeditions to the holy city.  Along the way, they massacred Jewish communities who they now consider a deicide people, who killed Jesus Christ.

In 14^th and 15^th centuries, Jews were forced to be converted to Christianity or leave Europe as a rumor spread accusing Jews of poisoning wells that caused black death. Jews decided to settle mainly in the Ottoman Empire where they were welcome. Poland - Lithuania became a heaven for Jews from Western Europe which hosts half of the Jews in the world in 17^th century. But everything changed after revolt of Cossacks Ukrainian peasants in 1648, more than one lac Jews were killed in that region. After many changes of geographic border, 9 lac Jews found themselves in the Russian empire where they were not welcome. The Jews then immigrated to America and western Europe which improved their living conditions.

In first world war, the Ottomans fought alongside Germans. When Allies were in trouble and desperately sought further support, Britain promised Jews a homeland in Palestine in return for Jewish support. In parallel, Britain also promised the Arab rebellion against Ottoman Empire independence in liberated territories too. At the end of the war, the map of Middle East was redrawn and divided up between the European powers. Palestine came under the British mandate, homeland to Jews was given but at the cost of marking the beginning of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In WWII, 60 lac Jews were killed. Following WWII, Jewish immigration from Europe to Palestine grows increasing tensions in Arab. In 1947, UN took over and proposed to divide Palestine into two states, with Jerusalem being given a special status of an International zone. The proposal was accepted by Zionists but rejected by Palestinian Arabs. In 1948, British withdrew them from Palestine, while Jews proclaimed independence of the State of Israel. In response, the whole Arab League (Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia) declared war against them. Finally, the Armistice Agreements were signed. Israel ceased new territory including Western Jerusalem. Jewish communities in Arab countries were forced to take refuge in Israel or elsewhere in Europe, even many European Jews started to settle in Israel.

In 1967, Israel declared war on Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Israel won and tripled the territory. Under the influence of Cold War, the Soviet Union supported Arab countries while US supported Israel with 22,000 tons of weaponry. Arab countries decided to punish the US and Israel’s allies by increasing the price of oil by 70% and decreasing the production by 5%. This caused the first oil crisis in 1973. Under international pressure, Israel ceded Sinai bank to Egypt and part of Golan to Syria.

In 1980s, in the West Bank, tension mounts over water supply as Israel has the upper hand on resources which was unevenly distributed between Israel and Palestine. In 1987, the Palestinians takes to the streets and revolted. In this context, arises Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni Islamist movement against Israel. In 15 November 1988, Palestine became a country with recognition of 136 states. Later, many peace efforts took place, but negotiations failed and violence reignites. In 2000, second Intifada took place, marked by numerous suicide bombings. In the following years, tension arises revolving Gaza strip as Hamas came into power and it continues to violent movements. In 2014 Israeli warplanes pound the area and destroy 50000 houses, hundred schools, dozens of hospitals and regions only power plant as Hamas was becoming violent and threat for Israel. In current days, the situation is complex and nowhere close to peace. Both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem as their capital. In 2018, USA announced they would move their embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing the city as capital of Israel though it is condemned by UN.