What is the state of Israel?
- Justine Hemmestad
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
By Noa Tishby, an Israeli activist, author of Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth, and former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism
Israel is a small but amazing country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It's also where I was born. Covering just over 8,000 square miles, about the size of New Jersey, it's home to over 10 million people, almost 8 million of them are Jewish and over 2 million of whom are Christian, Muslims, Drews, Bedouins, and others. It is a land where ancient history meets modern innovation.
Thousands of years ago in the land of Israel, there was a thriving Jewish state. While centuries of foreign rule and occupation followed, Jews maintain a continuance presence in the land. A small community known as the old Yeshu lived in ancient cities like Jerusalem, Tvat, Tiberius, and Kavan, preserving the Jewish spirit and connection to that land.
And for Jews living around the world in the diaspora, the land of Israel was more than just a memory. It was a key component of their prayers and rituals. That's why the re-establishment of the modern state of Israel was so significant. It represented the centuries old dream of Jewish sovereignty and self-determination becoming a reality.
In the late 19th century, the Zionist movement emerged. Led by visionaries like Theodore Herzel, Zionism stated that Jews, like any other people, had the right to a sovereign state in their ancestral homeland. Herzel's message spread quickly, inspiring Jewish communities across Europe and beyond, who faced growing anti-semitism and discrimination to work together toward reestablishing a safe, self-governed Jewish homeland.
As the Zionist dream gained momentum, Jews began arriving in the land of Israel, then part of the Ottoman Empire, later governed by the British. Israel is one of the greatest stories of decolonization. They came with ideals and determination, establishing farms, building communities, and even reviving the Hebrew language. This language revival led by Elzar Ben Yehuda was one of the most remarkable cultural achievements of the early Zionist movement. uniting people in diverse backgrounds with a common old yet modernized language.
By the 1940s, after the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust, the need for a Jewish state became very clear. Global support grew for the reestablishment of a Jewish homeland where Jews could finally be. On May 14, 1948, the British mandate finally ended. And as Great Britain folded the Union Jack, David Bengory Young, a key leader in the Zionist movement and soon to be Israel's first prime minister, proclaimed Israel's independence. The declaration was a historic moment. The ancient homeland was reborn as the modern state of Israel.
However, declaring independence was just the beginning. The young nation faced an immediate war for survival. A day after Israel declared independence, surrounding Arab countries launched a multifront war, sparking the 1948 War of Independence. Against overwhelming odds, Israel's newly formed army defended the country and won the war. Israel's founders established a democratic system, ensuring rights and representation for all its citizens, regardless of race or religion.
Today, about 21% of Israel's population are Arab citizens, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews, who participate in all aspects of Israeli society, from government to education, entertainment to business.
Despite its remarkable successes, many countries in the region still refuse to accept Israel's right to exist. Wars erupt every few years, leaving devastation in their wake.
Yet, Israel continues to push for integration into the Middle East, seeking genuine peace. Peace agreements with Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf States prove that it is in fact possible. And while, like any other country, Israel is not a perfect country, its mere existence is a miracle.
And despite its small size and limited resources, Israel has become known for its contribution to technology, medicine, and agriculture, earning its nickname, the startup nation.
So, what is the state of Israel? It is a refugee state, which was decolonized from Great Britain to create a modern, vibrant society where old meets new. It's the embodiment of an ancient hope fulfilled in the modern age. A homeland where the Jewish people have regained their sovereignty.
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