What was the land called that Israel occupied and who lived on it?

Answer 1

The name of this land has changed a few times over the millennia. 3,600 years ago before the Hebrew slaves left Egypt the region was called Canaan. This land was occupied by many peoples. The most famous of which where the Philistines.

The Israelites conquered the region and established the Kingdom of Israel. After Solomon, Israel was divided into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judea. The northern Kingdom was conquered by the Assyrian Empire in 720 BC. The Kingdom of Judea continued until it was conquered by the Babylonians in 586 BC. However, after the Persian empire, under Cyrus the Great, conquered Babylon in 539 BC; the Jews were allowed to return to Judea and rebuild Jerusalem and build the Second Temple.

The area was ruled by the Greeks after Alexander the Great conquered the Persian empire, and eventually passed to Roman control.

Judea was the name the Romans gave to the entire region that encompassed roughly the same land as both the Kingdoms of Judea and Israel.

In 135 AD, the name for the region became Palestine. This name was derived from the name of the people living in the land, the Philistines, when the Hebrews first settled the region. However, this name was chosen mainly as an insult to the Jewish people after Rome quelled the Second Jewish Revolt.

For the most part, the Philistine people were absorbed into Jewish population. Today, the only people that live in the land of Israel that have a direct historic link and whose beliefs, practices, language, and culture are the same as those of ancient inhabitants of the land, the Hebrews, are the Jewish people.

Before 1948, the term Palestinian as applied to the Arab population of the land that makes up Israel and surrounding territories did not exist. Moreover, today's Palestinians share nothing in common with the ancient inhabitants of Canaan in language, culture, or religion. The Palestinians speak Arabic a language not spoken in ancient Canaan, they are mostly Muslim (a few Christians) a religion that did not exist before the 7th Century AD, and they are nearly genetically indistinguishable from other Arabs in Jordan.

Answer 2

Both Palestine and Canna date back to ancient Egypt.

Fast forward to 1900 and it is part of the Ottoman Empire.

In 1919 as part of the WWI reparations England took procession of the land. A Census was conducted and there were approx. 4000 Egyptians approx. 2000 Europeans some miscellaneous Bedouins and 69 Palestinians.

I know you have taken a noticeable stand to this issue in the past, and I'm cool with that. The part of this conflict that I disagree with is the Position taken by both sides I feel they are both wrong.

Israel lets say for argument it's their land. The Jews are a State, Race, and a religion. They are instructed in the Law of Moses to take in the stranger and after 7 years of national loyalty grant them citizenship. OK then do that.

Palestine lets say for argument it's their land. The problem is they are ambiguous. There is no body of people that can prove genetically they are the descendents of the 1919 residents. Or that have historic title to lands not in their family procession. Many Sabra both Jew and Bedouin still own family farms Olive oil businesses etc. These people are not the problem.

There are a few million people living off of Saudi welfare claiming to be Palestinians. Young men pour into Gaza from the Arab world to recreationally attack Israel. This is the problem. Even Araphat was Egyptian and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The problem is outside involvement. Non-resident conflict.

I support a DNA test and sealed borders until the foreign fighters can be removed from the area. Then claim Jerusalem to be a World cultural Center and demilitarize it.

That's a start.

Go big Red Go

Answer 3

Israel did not "occupy" any land belonging to any people.


The concept of "Palestinians" is one that did not exist until about 1964, when the Arab inhabitants, of what until then was Palestine, wished to differentiate themselves from the Jews. Until then, the Jews were the Palestinians. There was the Palestinian Brigade of Jewish volunteers in the British World War II Army (at a time when the Palestinian Arabs were in Berlin hatching plans with Adolf Hitler for world conquest and how to kill all the Jews); there was the Palestinian Symphony Orchestra (all Jews, of course); there was The Palestine Post; and so much more.

The Arabs who now call themselves "Palestinians" do so in order to persuade a misinformed world that they are a distinct nationality and that "Palestine" is their ancestral homeland. But they are no distinct nationality at all. They are the same - in language, custom, and tribal and family ties - as the Arabs of Syria, Jordan, and beyond. There is no more difference between the "Palestinians" and the other Arabs of those countries than there is between, say, the citizens of Minnesota and those of Wisconsin.

What's more, many of the "Palestinians", or their immediate ancestors, came to the area attracted by the prosperity created by the Jews, in what previously had been pretty much of a wasteland.

Answer 4

Who lived on the land you now occupy? Probably some Native American. Should we kick you out of your house and give it to someone else?

The land currently known as Israel has been occupied by Israelies, Arabs, Brittians, Persions, Babylonians, Romans, Euopeans and others over the last few thousands years. Which one has the most claim to it?

Answer 5

Look and see how large the territory called "Palestine" was in Biblical days. Only a tiny strip is currently possessed by Jews.

Much larger surrounding countries could give the "Palestinians" a place to live if they really cared about them. They, and the Jews there, are only a few million people.

The Palestinians continue to be given large sums of money. They could have built a new country with that money, but instead they focus on building hatred and bombs.

Answer 6

You most recently? Gaza was part of Egypt. Egyptians lived there. West Bank was part of Jordan. Jordanians lived there. Both lost land to Israel when they lost the 1967 War.

Just read Ivri's answer. His is the most complete.

Answer 7

Israel has been called Israel for thousands of years. Jews have lived there for that long. The others (like the Palestinians) came over later.

Answer 8

It was called "The Promised Land" and it was given to the people of the Jewish religion many centuries before the cult of moohammed existed.

Answer 9

Israel and their called Israeli's those that live in Israel
everywhere has been called something different throughout history
NOW is what matters
Live in the present and remember the past

Answer 10

I could be wrong, but I think it was called Palestine before being given to Israel.. but I'm not really sure.. Shame on me, I should know that.