Historically the Jewish people are the descendants of Jacob, also called Israel, a grandson of Abraham. They have a long saga of unparalleled tenacity and survival.
Jewish Identity
The Jewish identity is ethnic, religious, and cultural. While a large number of Jews are descendants of Jewish parents, some are converts to Judaism from other ethnicities. People, whose religion is not Judaism but are descendants of Jewish parents also identify themselves as Jews and have a strong cultural and historical bond with the Jews and the land of Israel.
The Jews have a belief deeply ingrained in their traditions that they are a Chosen People of god and that the land of Israel, formerly called Palestine, is the Promised Land pledged by god to their patriarchal forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the land where their descendants will live peacefully for ever and be a blessing to the world. Jews in every part of the world have longed to return to Israel since generations.
Long History of a Nationless People
Few ethnic groups in the world can pride themselves of having a history as long and as uninterrupted as that of the Jews, though they did not live in their own country for several centuries. They have showed remarkable resilience and survived repeated onslaughts from many quarters throughout their long history.
The Jewish sense of nationhood was often kept alive by the deeply entrenched religious and social traditions that were passed down by family elders to successive generations. They remained tightly knit together even while leading secluded lives in diverse circumstances in various parts of the world adopting the cultures and languages of the host countries. Their contribution to economic and industrial growth was remarkable, in spite of the ridicule and political persecution they were subjected to since the medieval times.
The plight of the nationless Jews prompted others to come out with proposals for a homeland even in implausible places on earth.
Territorial Disputes with Neighbors
The seemingly unsolvable territorial dispute between the Palestinians and the Israelis has dominated the affairs of the Middle East since 1948 when the state of Israel was created by a unanimously adopted resolution of the UNO that had the active support of both the Soviet Union and the USA. The surrounding Arab nations resented the formation of Israel and claimed the same land for a Palestinian state.
The consistent refusal of the Jews’ right over the land by some extremist political organizations among Arab Muslims has been the cause of their bitter relations with Israel. The resultant wars have left the Israelis in possession of larger areas of the land while the Palestinians are now almost completely politically isolated from their fellow Arabs.
Palestinians, Citizens of Jerusalem
Interestingly, both Bible and Quran attest to the right of the Jews as chief inhabitants of this land on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. King David, venerated by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, acknowledges the Palestinians as being among inhabitants of Jerusalem in one of his songs (Psalms 87:4, Bible, Today's English Version).
A Land held Affectionate by All
Judaism and Christianity took their origin here and adherents of these religions worldwide - belonging to diverse ethnic, political, and linguistic backgrounds - hold the country of Israel as well as the city of Jerusalem dear to their heart and holy. Arabs, also descendants of Abraham, conquered Jerusalem in the 7th century and since then hold it the second holiest city for them next to Mecca. They too derive their patriarchal history from the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament.
This semi arid and rugged land that relies on river Jordan, the only river of some length and flow, and small seasonal streams for its supply of water has come to occupy the center stage of world politics since six decades.
