Israel

This is a map showing the location of the modern state of Israel.

Although the modern state of Israel was only formed after World War Two in 1948 CE, Jewish people have been present in this area since ancient times. These people were known as Israelites. Israel lies in the Middle East and represents both the spiritual and historical homeland of Judaism.

Modern-day Israel was founded in response to the Zionist movement. The Zionist movement began in 1897 CE, as a reaction to the growing desire for a Jewish homeland. This desire grew partly because of the violence and persecution the Jewish people were suffering. After the Holocaust, where around six million Jews were murdered in Nazi concentration camps during World War Two, Jews began to feel more strongly that they needed a country of their own to guarantee their safety. After the war, Britain, who had control of Palestine, established the state of Israel with the support of the United Nations.