The area we call Israel today, is also known as the holy land. It is called "Holy Land" because of its great importance in the history of three of the world's major religions, Judaism (Jewish), Christianity, and Islam.

Source: Map of Israel, Central Intelligence Agency

Take a look at the series of maps that follow that illustrate how the borders of Israel have changed over time:

So why all the changes? The United Nations' representatives voted to create Israel with certain territories designated for Jewish occupation as part of a healing process that was needed after the devastation of the Holocaust during World War II.

Source: Children in the Holocaust concentration camp liberated by red Army, Alexander Voroncov, Wikipedia.

The Nazis tortured and murdered millions during WWII. It is estimated that 6 million Jews lost their lives. The Nazis used Jews and other prisoners for labor to help their war effort. The children in the picture to the left were liberated by the Soviet Army as World War II came to an end in 1945.

Source: German civilians from Nammering, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Milton Ramoy Richard P. Bersnak Sr, www.ushmm.org

• Concentration camps were the places that people were forced to labor, starved, tortured, experimented on, and many died.
• Extermination camps were used to murder by the hundreds and thousands of people at a time.

The Jewish account for the vast majority of Holocaust deaths in World War II. They were targeted by Nazi propaganda and violence, but this was not the first time Jews were persecuted in European history.

Jews are a nation that had been spread out in small communities for generations. There has never been a nation-state with a majority and government represented by Jews, so they have always been a minority.

After the devastation of the Holocaust killed millions, separated families, and changed the Jewish population forever, the member countries of the United Nations decided it was time the Jewish people had a nation-state to create an official homeland. The borders of Israel began to be drawn in 1948.

Source: WW2-200, National Archives

Source: Flag of Israel, Central Intelligence Agency	Source: Flag of Palestine, Wikimedia
The borders of Israel began to be drawn in 1948. However, the borders were drawn in areas that caused Palestinian people already living there to have to give up homes, businesses, and land. This has caused much hardship and resentment.
Source: ProIsraeliTallyLondon, Bingman60, Wikimedia	Source: GazaProtestWashDC-a, Carolmooredc, Wikimedia

• Both nations of people believe the other has committed acts of terrorism on them.
• Both nations believe they have the right to exist in these lands.
• Both nations of people trace ancestors to this land.

Watch the video below. After watching the video answer the following questions about Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel in your notes.

(You may want to copy these questions onto your own paper so you can keep them in mind and answer them as you view the video).

Jerusalem Journal

1. What is keeping the teenagers apart in Jerusalem?
2. What are some in the Arab & Jewish communities doing to foster peace between the teenagers?
3. Describe the incident that caused a rift in the peace that was being built between the two communities. Which perspective of the collision do you agree with? Explain your answer.
4. Think about the monument of peace that stands in between the two communities that was shown in the beginning of the video. Do you believe that peace can be achieved between the Arab and Jewish communities in Jerusalem and throughout Israel?