<P> A Jewish national movement , Zionism , emerged in the late - 19th century ( partially in response to growing anti-Semitism ) and Aliyah ( Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel ) increased . After World War I , Ottoman territories in the Levant came under British and French control and the League of Nations granted the British a Mandate to rule Palestine which was to be turned into a Jewish National Home . A rival Arab nationalism also claimed rights over the former Ottoman territories and sought to prevent Jewish migration into Palestine , leading to growing Arab -- Jewish tensions . Israeli independence in 1948 was marked by massive migration of Jews from Europe , a Jewish exodus from Arab and Muslim countries to Israel , and of Arabs from Israel , followed by the Arab -- Israeli conflict . About 43 % of the world 's Jews live in Israel today , the largest Jewish community in the world . </P>
<P> A Jewish national movement , Zionism , emerged in the late - 19th century ( partially in response to growing anti-Semitism ) and Aliyah ( Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel ) increased . After World War I , Ottoman territories in the Levant came under British and French control and the League of Nations granted the British a Mandate to rule Palestine which was to be turned into a Jewish National Home . A rival Arab nationalism also claimed rights over the former Ottoman territories and sought to prevent Jewish migration into Palestine , leading to growing Arab -- Jewish tensions . Israeli independence in 1948 was marked by massive migration of Jews from Europe , a Jewish exodus from Arab and Muslim countries to Israel , and of Arabs from Israel , followed by the Arab -- Israeli conflict . About 43 % of the world 's Jews live in Israel today , the largest Jewish community in the world . </P>
who owned israel before it became a country
who owned israel before it became a country
the British
the British