The Formation of Israel
In 1948 Israel (known formally as Medinat Yisrael "The State of Israel") became a state. The name "Israel" originated in biblical times; in the Torah, God promises the "Land of Israel" to the Jewish people. After being ruled by many different groups, Modern day Israel was conquered by the Ottoman Empire which maintained its rule until its fall in the 20th century. The First Aliyah (immigration of Jews from the diaspora to Israel) came to escape the pograms in Eastern Europe in the late 1800's, although there was immigration of Jews before this, notably after the Spanish inquisition. The Second Aliyah (1904-1914) came from the pograms in the Russian empire (it was in this movement that kibbutzim were established). During WWI the British issued the Balfour Declaration (1917) which stated:
"His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/the-birth-of-modern-israel-a-scrap-of-paper-that-changed-history-492084.html
In 1922 the UK was granted a mandate over Palestine. The Third and Fourth Aliyahs (1919-1923 and 1924-1929 respectively) brought 100,000 Jews to Palestine. The Fifth Aliyah, caused by Nazism and the Holocaust which brought 250,000 more Jews to Palestine. The Arab revolt of 1936-1939 followed which caused the British to instate the White Paper of 1939 which capped immigration. Aliya Bet (an underground organization to bring Jews fleeing the Holocaust to Palestine) was formed as a response to this law and many countries' refusal to accept Jewish refugees. In 1947, unable to solve the Arab-Jewish conflict, the British ended their Mandate of Palestine. The UN put forth a plan called "Partition Plan for Palestine, in which Palestine would divide into two countries (one Arab and one Jewish). This plan was not accepted. Civil war broke out after Palestinian Arabs began attacking Palestinian Jews in protest of the occupation. However, their economy collapsed and many fled or were forced out. May 14th,1948 the Jewish Agency declared Israeli independence.
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