Read our short factsheet about the Israel-Palestine conflict.
What is Israel?
As we use the term today, Israel is a state set up in 1948. It is a state for Jewish people in the Middle East, on the Mediterranean Sea. It was set up as part of a two state solution for peace, following an influx of Jewish refugees from Europe following the Holocaust. Though large numbers of European Jews emigrated to the Middle East during the 1930s and 1940s, there was already a large population of Muslims living there.
Why did they emigrate to the Middle East?
Because they saw it as their historic home, which the Jews had been forced to leave over 2000 years before.
What is Palestine?
Palestine is the historic name for the area that encompasses Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
Today, Palestine is the name for the Israeli controlled territory where mainly Muslims live. This is broken up into two separate areas, the West Bank and Gaza.
Palestine is recognised as a state by 137 UN member nations, not including Ireland or America. There has been no consensus in the UN as to whether Palestine is a state, but it has been granted observer status. This means it is not considered a state with the same rights as other members of the UN, but it can take part in some activities, like attending the general assembly.
What are the West Bank and Gaza?
They are the territories that make up Palestine, where most Muslims and Christians live. It is very difficult for people living there to leave, even to go into Israel. Most families moved there during the Nabka.
What is the Nakba?
When the state of Israel was created, the Israeli army sought to take control of certain areas. This led to the destruction of many Muslim villages and homes. Some families keep the key for their houses as a family heirloom, even though most houses were destroyed.
Since 1948 Israel has expanded their territory, meaning most Palestinians have smaller territories to live in.
What does Donald Trump have to do with it?
Most countries don’t recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, because it is on the border of the West Bank and internationally many people see it as the capital of Palestine. As a sanction against Israel’s policies in Palestine, most countries have their embassies in another city, Tel Aviv. This means they will not recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. However, Donald Trump has moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, recognising it as Israel’s capital, in contrast to most other international practice.