Theodore Herzlwas greatly

concerned withthe treatment

of Jews inEurope.

European Jews were frequently mistreated and abused.

Theodore Herzl came to believethat Jews would only be safe

in a Jewish homeland.

Theodore Herzl was the founderof Zionism, a political philosophyfounded in the 1800s.

Zionism was a political philosophythat responded to Anti-Semitismby arguing for the creation of a Jewish homeland.

Zionists believed that onlya Jewish state or homelandcould protect Jews.

Great Britain eventually cameto support Zionist claims fora homeland.

To increase Jewish support for

theFirst World War, British Foreign

Secretary, Arthur Balfour,wrote a letter supporting aJewish state.

With the collapse of theOttoman Empire after the

First World War, Great Britaingained control of Palestine.

But with the end of the SecondWorld War, Great Britain asked

the United Nations for help.

Jews believed that God hadgiven them the land but thePalestinians had lived in the

land for many years.

The U.N. solution was a partition of the land into

two states.

But by 1948, Israel was

beingattacked by neighboring

Arabstates who refused to recognize

Israel.

The Israelis fought back andgained control of many Palestinian lands. Many

Palestinians were forced intoexile.

To this day, conflict betweenIsraelis and Palestinians

persists as no solution to thedivision of land has led to

peace.