The Creation of Israel Explain the historical reasons for the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948

 Palestine is created out of the old Ottoman Empire  Palestine is a significant piece of land because of Jerusalem and it’s importance to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity  Palestine was under British control after World War I  Before World War II most of the people living in Palestine were Arabs The Land and People of Palestine

The Jewish return to the Middle East  Zionists- people who felt the world’s Jews deserved to return to a homeland in Zion, or those parts of Palestine where the Jewish people had lived in Biblical times.  World War II begins, and Nazi Germany starts a movement called anti-Semitism  Anti-Semitism- hatred of the Jews simply because they practiced the Jewish faith  Holocaust- a time when over 6 million European Jews were killed in concentration camps set up by Germany and many thousands of other Jews had to leave Europe to avoid death.

Creation of Israel  After WWII, many countries felt tremendous guilt over what took place during the Holocaust.  The newly formed United Nations felt the same as many Jews that a Jewish homeland should be created in the Middle East.  In 1948, the United Nations voted to create Israel in the country of Palestine, located in the Middle East.

Conflict with Israel  Palestinian Arabs who were already living in the area were not happy with this new idea of Israel (a Jewish state).  The Palestinians felt the United Nations unfairly gave their land away, so they refused to acknowledge Israel.  In May 1948, a war broke out; Israel versus Palestine and other Arab countries.  Israel won the war and ended up taking more land than originally planned.

Pop Quiz 1.Which describes the Holocaust? a.The murder of millions of European Jews during World War II b.The destruction of all European governments during World War II c.The bombing of town and villages in England and Germany during WWII d.The Russian policy of burning ground behind them as they retreated to stop the German invasion.

2. Why did so many countries in the United Nations feel it was right to create Israel in 1948? a.There was no one else living on the land at the time. b.Many felt the Jews deserved help due to their suffering in the Holocaust. c.Arab countries in the area supported the creation of a homeland for the Jews in Palestine. d.All national groups in the former Ottoman Empire were being given homelands at the same time.

3. What is Zionism? a.The idea that all religious groups should have their own states. b.The plan to let Arabs and Jews share the land in Palestine equally c.The hope that all governments will be based on religious principles. d.The belief that Jews deserved to return to a homeland in Zion where they had lived in biblical times.

4. What world organization created the new state of Israel in 1948 as a homeland for the Jews? a.The United Nations b.The European Union c.The League of Nations d.The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

5. How did Arabs living in Palestine in 1948 feel about the creation of the new state of Israel? a.They supported it fully. b.They rejected it as unfair to them. c.The Arab population in Palestine was largely unaffected by the new state. d.They agreed to try to work it out although they were unhappy about the decision.

6. When war broke out in Palestine, what countries joined with the Palestinian Arabs to try to stop the creation of the new state of Israel? a.The United States b.Neighboring Arab countries c.The major nations of Europe d.The countries belonging to the United Nations