When It All Started
History of Israel-Palestine Conflict
As I watch the ongoing bloodshed in the Middle East and biased reporting that often follows, I feel the need to provide a concise summary based on historical facts.
My aim is to clarify my own thoughts and possibly offer some value to anyone who reads this.
To better understand the roots of the conflict that has persisted for decades and is now escalating to unprecedented levels, we must take a deep dive into history — a few thousand years deep that is!
Early History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict dates back to the 17th century BC when three patriarchs of Jewish people — Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — settled in Kanaan, a region approximating present-day Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, parts of Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
Over time, this region became known as the Land of Israel, the Promised Land, the Palestine Region, or the Holy Land.
In 1000 BC, King Saul established the Israelite monarchy, which was later ruled by King David. King David made Jerusalem the capital of his kingdom and his son Solomon built the first temple in Jerusalem — The Temple of Solomon.