| The causes of the Israel Palestine conflict are | | | | nationality as Palestinians. |
| complex. In fact the very question is a bit of an | | | | It was during this period that conflict arose |
| oxymoron. Consider that before Israel existed the | | | | between Palestinian Arabs and the Zionist settlers |
| entire area was known as Palestine, not a state, | | | | who were arriving from Eastern Europe and |
| not a nation, but a region of the former Ottoman | | | | Russia. Israel had not yet been created but the |
| Empire under the administration of the British | | | | desire of the European settlers to create |
| authorities by mandate of the now defunct | | | | exclusive Jewish communities gave rise to conflict |
| League of Nations. | | | | with Palestinian Arabs. In addition European Zionist |
| One of the best ways to learn about these issues | | | | funds were used to purchase land from absentee |
| is to take an Alternative Tour of Israel and the | | | | landowners and the Arab residents of the land |
| West Bank and examine the situation on the | | | | were often evicted by the new owners. This |
| ground. | | | | process exasperated the conflict with often |
| During the Ottoman Era the region was not even | | | | violent results. |
| known as Palestine by the governing authorities, | | | | During 1947 and 1948 when the state of Israel |
| but was divided into administrative regions known | | | | was formed, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian |
| as ‘Vilayets’, then subdivided into smaller | | | | Arabs were evicted or fled from their homes in |
| administrative units known as ‘Sanjaks’. | | | | the land that became Israel and never allowed to |
| The term Palestine was used loosely by the | | | | return. These people and their descendants |
| inhabitants, Jews, Christians and Muslims to | | | | became the Palestinian Refugees of today and |
| describe their affinity for the region. during the | | | | their plight is the root and cause of the Israel |
| first world war the European powers conquered | | | | Palestine conflict. |
| the region and assumed control. The region | | | | There are a number of new alternative tour |
| designated for British Administration was termed | | | | companies that specialize in study tours, and |
| ‘Palestine’ and all inhabitants, regardless of | | | | justice tours. |
| religion were issued identity cards labeling their | | | | |