In the 20th century prior to the end of world war II, who lived in what is now modern-day Israel?

Question

Heard some claims on talk radio about the composition of Israel pre-WWII, and was wondering where I could get objective information.

Answer 1

It was once part of the Ottoman Empire. The first wave of modern immigration to Israel, or Aliyah (עלייה) started in 1881 as Jews fled persecution, or followed the Socialist Zionist ideas of Moses Hess and others of "redemption of the soil." Jews bought land from Ottoman and individual Arab landholders. After Jews established agricultural settlements, tensions erupted between the Jews and Arabs.

Lots more detail in wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel

Answer 2

I don't have the specific source, but it was a combination of the same people who live there now except now there are more Jewish persons. I answered this response in another response and kind of gives answer here too.
They have been fighting for millenia or at minimal centuries. After Romans turned over Jerusalem in AD 70, the Jewish diaspora began- meaning the Jews disperse throughout Europe and the Middle East and Russia. In late 19 century, European Jews called Zionist started to "reclaim" the land. A piece of the Holy land was part of the British Empire. After WW2, in 1947, many of the displaced European Jews were sent and given British territory from the Allies to establish the new political state of Israel that had not existed since Roman times. Since then, many Jews throughout the world have returned to the "promised land" that they believe God gave there father Abraham (see Genesis also a part of the Torah). There has been almost nothing but turmoil over land between Israel and Palestine. Both groups see Jerusalem as a Holy City for Judaism and Islam, as does Christianity. I really think it is more of a religious war than a political war.

Answer 3

There was a small population of Jews among a large population of Muslim and Christian Arabs. These had co-existed in peace for centuries under Turkish rule.
After WW1 the British were given a mandate by the League of Nations to administer the area of Palestine, Transjordan (present day Jordan) and Mesopotamia (present day Iraq) These territories were never part of the British Empire.
The French were given a similar mandate to administer Syria and Lebanon.
Between the two world wars there was increasing pressure from Zionist Jews (mainly from Europe) to settle in Palestine.
After WW2 and Hitler's holocaust this pressure increased and Jewish terrorist organisations were set up in Palestine to fight for an independent Jewish state.
They carried out many terrorist atrocities such as the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in which over 90 people were killed and the taking of British hostages and murdering them.
Their campaign was successful and in 1948 the British left and the State of Israel was declared.
The Jews then carried out a policy of ethnic cleansing in which Arabs were either massacred or driven off their land.
Many of the terrorists became members of the israeli government and were subsequently supported by European and American governments.
You could say that Israel is the blueprint for a successful terrorist state.
Many people have tried to emulate them but have lacked the covert support of more powerful friends such as the US.

Answer 4

Do well to remember that there was no such thing as what we percieve today as "Palestinians." The Palestinians of pre-WWII Israel were actually Jews, not Arabs. It would have been considered an insult if you were to call an Arab a Palestinians pre-1948 as the term "Palestinian" was used to describe a Jew living in that territory.

Answer 5

Palestinians lived there under the territory of Britain.

Answer 6

Palestinians lived there...and then they were forcibly removed...that's why there is still conflict.

Answer 7

people. (but if you want specifics- jews, muslims, christians, arabs, and probably a few others.)

Answer 8

Jews and Arabs