The history of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel goes back some 3,500 years, as recorded in the Bible. Jewish cultural, national and spiritual identity was formed in Israel, where there has been an uninterrupted presence of Jews, even after the majority were forced into exile 2,000 years ago. No nation can claim more solid religious, political and legal rights to a country than the Jewish people can to Israel.

In 1948, after millennia of persecution culminating in the Holocaust, the modern state of Israel was formed. Despite enormous challenges, Israel became a vibrant democracy, a scientific and cultural capital, a military power and a global force for progress and peace.

Most of the tyrannical Arab regimes that surround Israel never have accepted its existence and, time and again, have rejected its peace overtures. Israelis have been forced to defend themselves in repeated wars, and against a merciless onslaught of terrorism from groups sponsored by these hostile regimes. Yet Israel has persevered, defending its right to exist while maintaining a profound yearning for peace.