Israel declared itself independent on 14 May 1948.
Israel turns 78 years old. This country has been continuously struggling since it was declared an independent country. Fighting war with Arab countries. Despite this, the development journey of this Jewish country is interesting. Is inspiring. Due to its research, Israel has left many developed countries behind. Many big countries are looking towards it with hopeful eyes. Israel came on the world map on 14 May 1948. Come, let us know under this pretext that who was in possession of the land on which this country is inhabited? Romans, Ottomans and British, who ruled here when?
The area of Israel, Palestine, West Bank and Gaza is counted among the oldest and most disputed areas in the world. This land was known by different names in history. Such as Canaan, Judea, Samaria, Syria-Palestine, Southern Levant and Palestine. This land was not ruled continuously by a single power. Over thousands of years, many dynasties, empires and external forces came here. Therefore, it would be correct to say that the occupation and governance of this area kept changing many times.
1- Whose rule was first?
The earliest written and archaeological evidence suggests that there were ancient Canaanite city-states in the region. This is about the Bronze Age. At that time there were small towns here. They also came under the influence of big powers like Egypt. An important source of this period is the Amarna letters. These are diplomatic letters between Egyptian and Canaanite rulers. These show that this area was divided among many local rulers and Egypt also had influence on it.
The Dome of the Rock, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, is a holy Islamic pilgrimage site.
2- Ancient Israel and the Kingdom of Judah
The states named Israel and Judah emerged here in approximately the first millennium BC. This land is considered very important religiously and historically in Jewish tradition. This period is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. But historians do not depend only on religious texts. They also look at inscriptions and archaeology. An important evidence is the Mernepta Pillar. This is an Egyptian inscription. The name Israel is mentioned in it.
3- Capture of Assyria and Babylon
After this, the big imperialist powers caught sight of this area. First the Assyrian Empire captured the northern kingdom of Israel. Then the Babylonian empire captured Judah. Babylon attacked Jerusalem around 586 BC. The first temple was destroyed. Many people were taken into exile. This event is very important in Jewish history.
Tel-Aviv is called the White City of Israel.
4- Persian rule started after Babylon
After Babylon came the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Persian king Cyrus conquered Babylon. After this some Jews were allowed to return and rebuild the temple. During this period, local religious life reorganized. It is also mentioned in Persian administrative records and in texts like Ezra and Nehemiah.
5- Greek and Hellenistic rule
Alexander the Great conquered this area in the fourth century BC. After that this land was divided among his successor dynasties. First there was the influence of Ptolemy and then Seleucid rulers. From here the influence of Greek culture increased. Later there was a Jewish revolt against Seleucid rule. From this the Hasmonean state emerged. This was a local Jewish kingdom.
The Jews have fought a long struggle for freedom.
6- Roman Empire started again
In 63 BC, Roman commander Pompey captured Jerusalem. After this this area came under Roman influence. There were rulers like Herod in the Roman period. They were local kings, but ruled with Roman support. Later there were major revolts between the Jews and Rome. The Roman army destroyed the second temple in 70 AD. After the Bar Kokhba rebellion of 1321-135 AD, the Roman government imposed severe repression. Many historians believe that during this period the Roman administration promoted the name Syria Palestine instead of Judea.
7- Eastern Roman Empire rule started again
After the division of the Roman Empire, this area remained under the Byzantine i.e. Eastern Roman Empire. This lasted from approximately the fourth to the seventh century. At this time the importance of Christian religious places increased a lot. Jerusalem became the main center of Christianity.
8- Arab-Islamic rule also continued
In the seventh century, the armies of the Rashidun Caliphate captured this area. After this came the Umayyad, Abbasi, and later Fatimid rule. During this period, the Arabic language and Islamic administrative structure became stronger. Important Islamic monuments like the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa were built in Jerusalem. This is the reason why this land is very sacred for Muslims also.
The six-pointed star on the flag of Israel is a major symbol of Judaism.
9- Crusaders and then Muslim Sultanates
In 1099 AD, Crusader armies captured Jerusalem and established a Latin Christian state. But this rule did not last. In 1187, Salahuddin Ayyubi re-conquered Jerusalem. After this there was Ayyubid and then Mamluk rule.
10- Ottoman rule lasted for four hundred years
In the year 1517, the Ottoman Turkish Empire captured this area. His rule lasted for about 400 years. It was a very long period. During the Ottoman period, this area remained divided into different administrative units. Arab Muslims, Christians, Jews and other communities lived here. Jewish immigration increased here at the end of the nineteenth century. At this time the modern Zionist movement also emerged.
11- The British also ruled this land
The Ottoman Empire was defeated after the First World War. Then Britain’s control was established over this area. It was called British Mandate for Palestine. This was under the arrangement of the League of Nations. In the Balfour Declaration of 1917, Britain talked about its support for the Jewish National Home. But there was already a large Arab population living here. From here the modern political conflict intensified. British rule lasted from the 1920s to 1948. During this period, violence, rebellion and political conflict increased between the Jewish and Arab communities.
12- Israel was formed in 1948
In the year 1947, the United Nations gave the partition plan. The State of Israel was proclaimed as a new nation in 1948. After this there was war. After this war, the situation became such that Israel established control over a large part. Jordan remained in control of the West Bank. Gaza was under Egyptian administration. In the 1967 war, Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Golan and Sinai. Later Sinai was returned to Egypt. Today’s debate focuses primarily on the political and legal status of Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.
To put it simply, the history of this land is not straightforward. This is not limited to just the Romans, Ottomans and British. Many rulers came before and after this also. The region changed hands over thousands of years between numerous civilizations, empires and local principalities. This is why today’s dispute is not only a question of current politics, but also of long history, religion, identity, displacement and memory.
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