Questions tagged [israel]
Israel refers to the country in the Middle East. The current state of Israel was founded in 1948, but there are some arguments that trace the existence of the state back to BCE time periods.
109
questions
-6
votes
1
answer
136
views
"Israel created Hamas" - what's the timeline behind the historical facts of this claim?
A common claim across social media right now is "Israel created Hamas" - I've found it a little bit difficult to get an accurate timeline about Israel's actual involvement in Hamas.
This is ...
- 89
14
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Why didn't Israel officially declare war in several of its prior wars?
According to various sources, the current war with Hamas is the first time Israel has invoked Article 40A since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The invocation of Article 40A, to my understanding, is the ...
12
votes
2
answers
4k
views
When was the last direct conflict within Israel's boundaries?
With this recent attack by Hamas I looked up the incident on Wikipedia and it says:
"It is the first direct conflict within Israel's boundaries since the
1948 Arab–Israeli War."
Israel has ...
- 1,403
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is there evidence of a pagan temple on the site of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem that predated the Jewish Temple?
Is there any evidence of a pagan temple having preceded Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem on that same site? I have seen this argument made, but I wanted to know more about the reasons behind this ...
6
votes
1
answer
325
views
Did Soviet propaganda assert that the Jews lived badly/poorly in Israel?
To my knowledge, there was a lot of anti-Israel propaganda that emphasized
Israeli militarism.
Suppression of the Arab locals.
Israel being a puppet of the US.
Israel being friendly with the former ...
- 32.5k
6
votes
1
answer
291
views
Was there really a whale skeleton in Jaffa?
Was there really a whale skeleton in Jaffa or at least a common myth about it?
I cannot find any historical reference to it but still believe, from the way he wrote Moby Dick, that Melville did not ...
- 163
12
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Was Yahweh one of the Moloch Gods?
In the Complete works of Swami Vivekananda, he says
In Babylonian or Greek mythologies we find one god struggling upwards,
and he assumes a position and remains there, while the other gods die
out. ...
user58967
2
votes
2
answers
183
views
Has the USA ever sanctioned Israel? [closed]
The USA has always been a strong supporter of Israel. In comparison, USA has repeatedly sanctioned Iran. When searching if USA has ever sanctioned Israel, didn't find anything.
Has USA ever sanction ...
- 145
9
votes
1
answer
251
views
Why was the king of Judah referred to as "the king of the House-of-David"?
In the famous Tel Dan Stele it says, likely in the name of Hazael, king of Aram:
"… קתלת.אית.יהו[רם].בר [אחאב.]מלך.ישראל.וקתל[ת.אית.אחז]יהו.בר[.יהורם.מל]ך.ביתדוד …"
"… killed Jeho[ram]...
- 535
23
votes
1
answer
4k
views
How advanced was the satellite technology during the Yom Kippur War?
A couple decades after Sputnik, how advanced was the satellite technology during the Yom Kippur War, and how did U.S. intelligence completely miss the mobilization of Arabian armies?
I have read a few ...
- 333
19
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Why was the Israeli army strong enough to win the 1948 war?
How did the new state of Israel already have an army strong enough to secure a military victory against multiple neighboring armies in 1948?
According to a inadequately cited Wikipedia article, we ...
- 378
5
votes
1
answer
205
views
Where were the best ancient wine regions in Israel, called Kerutim & Hatoulim in the Mishna, located on a map?
I have not been able to find these locations that are mentioned in the Mishna. I came across this quote from Asaph Goor:
The Mishna also (Menahot, 8, 6) points to the regions where the best wine-...
- 279
3
votes
2
answers
367
views
Was there a stated reason for the evacuation of Israeli settlers from the Gaza strip?
In 2005 the Israeli disengagement from Gaza took place. During this process of disengagement, the Israeli settlers within the Gaza strip were taken out of the Gaza strip (by command or by force).
In ...
- 39
0
votes
1
answer
176
views
What Evidence Do We Have For Samaritans Living In Babylon in the 6th or 5th Century BC?
Does anybody have any sources to show a Samaritan population in Babylon during the 6th or 5th Century BCE? 2 Kings 17 records the deporting of five different nations into the cities of Samaria
And ...
- 119
6
votes
1
answer
744
views
Based on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III, Did Assyrians of 825 (or) 840 BCE associate the מָגֵן דָּוִד Magen David as a symbol of Yisrael?
The Assyrian Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III (in the British Museum) could have associated the nation of Yisrael with a Menorah, but chose to distinguish Yehudim with an encircled star similar to the ...
- 221
0
votes
0
answers
230
views
What was meant by "Palestine is not Rhodesia"?
While reading about the Israel/Palestine conflict, I found this 1927 statement by Chaim Weizmann (emphasis mine):
Palestine must be built up without violating the legitimate interests of the Arabs ...
- 109
1
vote
0
answers
169
views
Is there any transcript or recordings of Yasser Arafat's speech to Arab foreign ministers in 1996 (Stockholm)?
I am interested in a full transcript or original recording of a speech that Yasser Arafat delivered to 'Arab diplomats in Stockholm's [Grand Hotel in] January 1996'. The speech is referenced and is ...
- 11
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How did Azerbaijan come to be allied with Turkey and Israel?
I'm reading a news article (in French) about the resurgence of conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and I learn that Azerbaijan is predominantly a Shiite country. This, in my understanding of traditional ...
- 309
2
votes
1
answer
121
views
During the time of the British Mandate, who opposed the term "Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine" and who if any were OK with it being called that?
During the time of the British Mandate, who in the British Government opposed the term "Hashemite Kingdom Of Palestine"?
" the Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine. This was the name that ...
- 173
-2
votes
1
answer
274
views
What is Revolutionary Monotheism? [closed]
Can anyone help explain to me what this concept is? I'm aware of monotheism in the Bible but not Revolutionary Monotheism.
Thank you.
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Were there any long-term political effects on Argentina after Eichmann's kidnapping?
On the 11th May 1960 a group of Mossad agents kidnapped Adolf Eichmann, who was at this time living in Argentina under false name of "Ricardo Klement". After this kidnapping (and subsequent trial) ...
- 3,400
-3
votes
1
answer
150
views
What did Joe Slovo mean by 'collusion' in The War Against Aparthied?
Nadine Gordimer, in the foreword of the book, Ruth First & Joe Slovo in The War Against Aparthied by the oral historian, Alan Weider, quotes Joe Slovo when he visited Palestine in the early 1940s:...
- 2,690
1
vote
2
answers
622
views
When and how was the cairn structure in the "Sea of Galilee" covered in water?
In 2013 Israeli researchers from Tel Aviv university discovered a large cairn, buried under the water of the freshwater lake "Sea of Galilee" in northern part of state of Israel:
Researchers find ...
user41617
2
votes
1
answer
528
views
Is there a reconstruction for whom and when were the peoples of the ancient Levant just before Israel, Judea and Edom?
Primarily from viewing lectures and interviews about the ancient history of the Levant, I understand that before Israel, Judea and perhaps also Edom states were created, their area included groups ...
user41617
6
votes
2
answers
838
views
Have historians attempted to reconstruct the polytheistic Semitic pantheon, dividing it into sub pantheons?
Historians reconstruct pantheons to better understand their role in society (see below for examples of reconstruction as a historical method). Has there been any attempt to apply this historical ...
user41617
2
votes
3
answers
414
views
Were Israeli-Arab conflicts in the Cold war testing grounds for NATO and Warsaw Pact equipment?
During the Cold War, Israel and it's Arab neighbors often came into conflict with each other and fought a number of wars during which Israel often used weaponry from the West (USA, UK and France) ...
user41672
1
vote
0
answers
224
views
What would one call a skilled metal worker in Jerusalem, circa 600 BC?
I'm doing research for a book of fiction in which the main character is a skilled metalworker in ancient Jerusalem, circa 600 BC. I want to be authentic and historically accurate.
This person is ...
- 237
4
votes
1
answer
675
views
What did Moshe Dayan say about fighting Arabs?
I am looking for the details of a quote that goes something along the lines of "It is easy to look like a great general when you fight Arabs" by Moshe Dayan (or maybe Golda Meier). I believe the ...
- 83
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
Why did the U.S. place an arms embargo on all belligerents in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war?
Why did the U.S. place an arms embargo on all belligerents in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war? My understanding is that it hindered Israel more and forced them to buy weapons from Czechoslovakia. Most ...
- 169
8
votes
3
answers
702
views
What did the Jews during the First Jewish-Roman War know about other anti-Roman revolts?
The first Jewish-Roman War started in 66 CE. When I read about it, it sounds so futile: you have a group of zealots (literally and figuratively) revolting against a professional army from the period's ...
- 271
2
votes
1
answer
471
views
What is the diplomatic record on President Sadat's 1971 peace offer to Israel?
I have seen a lot of talk in the Israel-Palestine debate about the 1971 peace offer, but I can't find any original sources on it. Even Wikipedia's brief paragraph about it says "citation needed."
...
- 329
-1
votes
1
answer
245
views
Why does the Balfour declaration refer to Palestine, as opposed to the Land of Israel or the Holy Land? [closed]
The Balfour Declaration states that
His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to ...
- 162
0
votes
1
answer
116
views
Reference request - Books on Israel-Palestine conflict [closed]
I am searching for a good even-handed account of the Israel-Palestine conflict. I read James Gelvin's book which was ok but I found lacking in detail when it came to the situation in more recent times....
- 329
4
votes
4
answers
918
views
Was there ever any co-existence solution to peace with Israel that the Arab Palestinian side proposed or said would accept?
Basically, I am trying to find if there was ever any effort from the Palestinian side to propose or counter a peaceful end to the conflict that they would accept.
There's lot of talk of proposals &...
- 239
5
votes
1
answer
479
views
What specifically did Einstein have in mind when he called the Israeli Freedom Party fascistic?
In a blog published in the TLS, May 2016, Toby Lustig points out that Einstein in a letter to the New York Times, a few months after the declaration of Israeli idependence:
wrote to complain of '...
- 2,690
0
votes
1
answer
150
views
Haredi (Orthodox Jewish) view on Zionism pre-1948
Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, what was the general Haredi (Hasidic, orthodox non-Mizrachi) stance on political Zionism?
Did it change with the establishment of the state? If so, ...
- 221
17
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Was the option of setting up a Jewish state in defeated Nazi Germany ever considered?
Since there were a lot of Jews pre WW2 in Germany, and Germany was responsible for the many deaths of Jews during the Holocaust, it seems logical to suggest, that a new Jewish state should maybe be ...
- 339
13
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why didn't China vote in UNSC Resolution 344?
According to this Wikipedia article, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 344 in 1973 with 10 votes from non-permanent members and 4 abstentions from the permanent members France, ...
- 782
11
votes
2
answers
512
views
Were Israel-Iran relations better in the 80s? What changed?
If you look at the Iran-Contra affair (mostly around 1985), you'll see that the middleman in the arms for money/hostages deal were Israeli companies.
Were Israeli-Iran relations better at that point? ...
13
votes
3
answers
954
views
Did more Jews live in Poland than any other country, prior to the Holocaust, because of how Polish laws and people regarded Jews?
Poland in 1900 and just before the Sho'ah ranks 1st in a list of nations by Jewish percentage of the population. [1]
Now of course in such a ranking that country is Israel.
Why did Jews migrate to and ...
- 231
1
vote
1
answer
180
views
What were the potential consequences of Israel's strike on the Osirak reactor?
Was there any plutonium at the plant at the time?
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What attributes did Yahweh have before becoming a monotheistic deity?
Did it "belong" to another people before he was adopted by Hebrews? Is there any anthropological reconstruction about all this monotheistic thing?
- 171
6
votes
3
answers
433
views
Why were Soviet attitudes towards Israel inconsistent in the late 40's and 50's?
What are the different theories explaining the inconsistent attitude Soviet Russia had towards the nascent State of Israel between the years 1947 and 1953?
Communist Russia's hate of Zionism is well ...
- 221
0
votes
3
answers
831
views
Were Moses & Abraham historical figures?
History is not my area of specialization. I am curious to know about the historicity of Moses and Abraham from the viewpoint of modern critical scholarship. It would be great if references are ...
35
votes
5
answers
8k
views
When Israel won the Six Day War, did they consider expelling all Arabs from the annexed territories?
Did Israel consider doing this and if so, would that have been in violation of international law?
- 3,763
1
vote
2
answers
4k
views
Were women in 1st century Israel not trusted as witnesses in court?
A common thing I've heard growing up is that women living in Israel in the 1st century couldn't be witnesses in a court of law because [reasons].
The times that I've heard this said it has also ...
- 111
4
votes
4
answers
216
views
How multilingual would Canaanite citizens have been?
This question concerns the Land of Israel circa 1,500-1,000 BCE.
Different sources mention different languages for this region:
This land was part of the New Kingdom of Egypt, so presumably Middle ...
- 1,551
2
votes
2
answers
376
views
Did the PLO coordinate with Arab armies during the Six Day War?
In general, the PLO did some raiding before and after the Six Day War but I noticed this facebook post (and also wikipedia) that listed the PLO among the contributors to the Arab's strength.
It would ...
- 2,795
0
votes
1
answer
121
views
Alternatives to a Two State Solution [closed]
In 1948 the UN voted on a two state solution for Palestine. 33 for the resolution, 13 against, and 10 abstains. It seems like the vote wasn't close. But what would have happened if the results were ...
- 169
4
votes
2
answers
366
views
Why did Anwar Sadat establish diplomatic relationship with Israel and did that decision pay off?
Why did Egypt establish diplomatic relationship with Israel and did that decision pay off?
As far as I recall, Anwar Sadat was able to convince his people and his followers that establishing ...
user13279