After World War I, the League of Nations gave the lands of the Ottoman Empire to the British and the French as Mandates (to look after until the people were ready for independence).

After World War I, the Zionists encouraged Jewish immigration to Palestine. As conditions in Nazi Germany and Europe worsened for Jews, many decided to start new lives in Palestine.

The horrors of the Holocaust convinced many that the Jews needed a homeland.

The Arabs rejected this. In 1947, the United Nations proposed dividing Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state. The Arabs rejected this. The following year, Israel declared its independence and became a country. This led to the Arab-Israeli War of 1948.

The Israeli military proved to be better equipped, trained, and motivated.

…the result of the wars… Palestinian refugees

Almost 60 years later, and 3.7 million Palestinians still live in refugee camps

Today there are more than 3 Today there are more than 3.7 million Palestinian refugees living in refugee camps throughout the Middle East and many more exiles worldwide. The refugees have a claim to citizenship. The government of Israel, however, opposes Palestinian immigration, in order to maintain the Jewish character of the state.

President Jimmy Carter managed to get Egyptian and Israeli leaders to meet at Camp David and make a peace agreement.

The Palestinians left in Israel have been unhappy at their treatment…