Readings and videos: Histories of Jewish Peoplehood, Zionism and Israel

We recommend summaries of modern Israeli politics, history, and culture. The classic review of is “Zionism” discussed from biblical origins, including the ancient kingdoms, peoplehood, messianism, and stirrings to renewal for Eretz Yisrael. This is found in the Jewish Encyclopedia, 1906, Vol VIII, 40 pages;

In addition, we suggest, “The Zionist Movement” reprinted from The Israel Yearbook, 1950-1951, pp. 23-34;

For an understanding of Jewish state building, Forming a Nucleus for the Jewish State 1882-1947. (espanol) (Hebrew)

Arab-Israeli Conflict Timeline (Spanish)

Find short histories:

Jewish history from Abraham to Herzl (Espanol) (Hebrew) (Portuguese) (Polish)

1897’s First Zionist Congress to May 1948 (Espanol) (Hebrew) (Portuguese) (Polish)

Jewish Connection to the land of Israel

in prayer (Spanish)

in the biblical covenants (Spanish)

Theodor Herzl, The Jewish State, (Spanish) (Hebrew)

1897 Max Nordau address at the First Zionist Congress

Balfour Declaration (Spanish) (Hebrew)

History of Palestine Mandate 1920-1948 (Spanish) – Overview of 1920- 1928

Land and Jewish Nationhood: the Making of the State, July 2022 (Michael Berger and Ken Stein – historical and political connection of Jews to the land of Israel (Video 40:00) – Biblical to Contemporary Times

How did the Zionists make the state? (Ken Stein, video 48:00), 2019.

Jewish Land Purchase in Palestine, the basis for the Jewish state (Hebrew)

Arab land sales to Zionists- the role of the JNF/KKL (Spanish) (Hebrew)

Arabic Newspapers- Arab land sales to Jews, 1929- 1949

1938- Arab Leaders in Damascus believe a Jewish state is present

Palestinian Arab Leader rejects two states in 1939 (Arab source) (Spanish)

Arab Rejection of UN partition in 1947 and Israel’s success in the 1948 War resulted in Israel increase of 37% of the land area in Palestine, no Arab state was established in 1948-1949; Gaza was ruled by Egypt, the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem was governed by Jordan. As a result of the June 1967 War, Israel took control of the Golan Heights, Gaza Strip, the West Bank, the Sinai Peninsula, and reunified Jerusalem. In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip turning it over to the Palestinian Authority, an administrative outgrowth of the PLO. In 2007, Hamas toppled the PA and took control of the Gaza Strip, with the PA retaining its administration in Ramallah in the West Bank.

UN Partition of Palestine, 1947, (Spanish) (Hebrew)

Great Powers and the Middle East, 1945- present

1948 – Israel’s Declaration of Independence (Spanish)

1945-1949 What happened in Palestinian Arab- Zionist relations? (Video 46:00)

(Avraham Sela and Alon Kadish), 2022

History of the 1948 War

Yigal Allon, How the Zionists/Israelis won the 1948 War, 1952 Sefer Haplamach,

June 3, 1967, Prelude to the 1967 War- Ambassador Gideon Rafael, at the UN (Hebrew)

Israel’s Road to the June 1967 War

UN Security Council Resolution 242

The October 1973 War – A Short History (Spanish)

1978 Carter’s Search for Middle East Peace– 4:00 video