Israel historically

The patriarch Abraham Abraham travels in stages from Mesopotamia (Ur in Chaldea) to Canaan. His first residence is Hebron. God makes Abraham a threefold promise (Genesis 12:1-3; Abrahamic Covenant):

• Promise of a people as God's own people and covenant people
• Promise of a specific territory
• Calling to become a blessing to all peoples

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob became Israel (Jacob = Israel). The family migrated to Egypt. Israel grew into a nation and fell into slavery.

Exodus under Moses. The Torah is given, the Sinai Covenant is made.

• Possession of the promised land under Joshua
• Judges as a public order factor
• Pre-state era: No centralized order, but a national shrine in Shilo

Twelve tribes united under King David; Israel becomes a great empire; David makes Jerusalem the capital of Israel; Jerusalem becomes the dwelling place of God. (From this point on, a relatively precise dating of the events is possible.)

The golden age of Israel under King Solomon. Construction of the First Temple around 930 BC.

Division into the 10-tribe kingdom of Israel (northern kingdom) and the two-tribe kingdom of Judah (southern kingdom).

The northern kingdom of Israel is destroyed by Assyria, its population is captured and scattered ("lost tribes").

The southern kingdom of Judah is overrun by Babylon, a large part of the population is taken into exile and settled there, and Jerusalem and the first temple are destroyed.

The Persians, under Cyrus, conquer Babylon and allow the return of the Israelites. The first vanguard (only 5%), led by Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, and Ezra, begins the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple (Second Temple).

The Near East, including Judah, has been under Hellenistic rule since its conquest by Alexander the Great. A struggle rages between proponents of Hellenization and those who uphold Jewish identity (Torah adherence).

The Hellenization of Israeli society reaches its peak: The Temple becomes a pagan place of worship and is desecrated with pig sacrifices.

A Jewish uprising led by the Maccabean clan against the Hellenistic King Antiochus. Jerusalem is liberated and the Temple service is renewed.

Judah becomes a province of Rome.

Jesus is born

Jesus Christ – crucified and resurrected under Pontius Pilate.

First Jewish-Roman War, destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple under Titus.

Defeat in the Second Roman War. Subsequently, the Jewish people are scattered, except for a small remnant. Israel is renamed "Palestine" ("Land of the Philistines") by the Romans, and Jerusalem is renamed "Aelia Capitolina." A temple to Jupiter is erected on the Temple Mount, and Jews are forbidden entry.

Almost the entire Jewish people are in exile worldwide. However, a small Jewish minority remains permanently in the Holy Land.

The Mishnah originated in Israel and Babylon as the first major written collection of the orally transmitted Torah interpretations of Jewish scholars. After the destruction of the Temple and the dispersion of the Jewish people by the Romans, the construction of synagogues increased in the Diaspora.

Babylon develops into a flourishing center of Jewish culture and scholarship, and the Talmud emerges as a collection of scholarly traditions.

The territory of ancient Israel comes under Muslim rule. Jews are tolerated as second-class subjects in exchange for a special tax.

The first Jewish communities are established in Germany, and the emperor assumes the protection of the so-called "chamber servants".

The First Crusade was accompanied by severe persecution of Jews and atrocities, leaving a trail of blood across Europe to Jerusalem. Five more Crusades followed. They remained an episode. The conquest of the Holy Land by the Crusaders failed in the 13th century.

Various Muslim peoples take turns ruling the Holy Land.

The Ottoman incorporated the Holy Land into their vast empire for 400 years. Jews enjoyed limited freedom of religion.

Despite the Enlightenment and increasing tolerance, antisemitism did not end but instead increased again in the 19th century, leading to new pogroms. At the same time, modern Zionism developed, striving for the return of Jews to the Land of Israel and a national renewal of the Jewish people there.

The First Zionist World Congress was held in Basel: The central focus was the creation of a secure "homeland" for the Jewish people in Palestine. Theodor Herzl became the first president of the World Zionist Organization.

Great Britain triumphed over the Turkish army in World War I and occupied Palestine. The Balfour Declaration assured the Jews of its support for the establishment of a "homeland" in Palestine. This was confirmed by the League of Nations in 1922.

Great Britain received the League of Nations mandate for Palestine to establish a Jewish "homeland," but without legitimacy, it carved out 76% of the mandate territory and created the Emirate of Transjordan in favor of a Hashemite kingdom. Only 24% remained for the Jewish "homeland.".

Establishment of several pre-state institutions (e.g. the Jewish Agency/Jewish Immigration Authority), several waves of immigration, resistance from violent Arabs, unrest and terror, Great Britain restricts Jewish immigration.

A few thousand Jews managed to escape Hitler's death machine by illegally fleeing to Palestine. Great Britain sent thousands back to Europe.

UN Resolution 181 (II) recommends the partition of the already divided territory into a Jewish and an Arab part. The Arab side rejects the plan, while Israel agrees despite reservations. Arab forces immediately begin hostilities.

The founding of the State of Israel: The British Mandate ends, David Ben-Gurion proclaims the Jewish state. The following night, Israel is attacked by five neighboring armies – and wins as if by a miracle (War of Independence).

Israel is admitted to the UN. In the same year, David Ben-Gurion declares Jerusalem the capital of Israel. The Israeli parliament (the Knesset) confirms this position in 1950.

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was founded. Its goal was the "liberation of Palestine from Jewish rule." Y. Arafat transformed the Arabs in Israel into a "people": the "Palestinians.".

Six-Day War. Israel wins, Jerusalem is reunited. The Arab states respond with the "Three Nos of Khartoum": No to peace with Israel. No to recognition of the State of Israel. No to negotiations with Israel.

Yom Kippur War. Israel is attacked by Egypt, Syria and other states, but holds its own.

Peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.

The Knesset declares a unified Jerusalem the capital of Israel. The UN Security Council condemns this. As a result, the embassies stationed in Jerusalem relocate to Tel Aviv.

Madrid Conference: Beginning of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians (PLO), which to this day have not led to a peace agreement.

Clarification of principles: Land for peace. The biblical heartland is to be given to the Palestinian Authority (“Oslo Peace Process”). Despite many concessions by Israel, the conflict intensifies (1st and 2nd Intifadas).

Peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. Israel begins handing over land and cities to the Palestinians, first Jericho and Gaza, then Bethlehem and others.

Attacks, primarily rockets, are launched from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. The Israeli army is conducting several military operations in the Gaza Strip.

The USA recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and moves its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018.

Israel is celebrating its 70th anniversary as a state.