I think it will help if we share a historical summary of the events surrounding the land and the people:
66 Jews revolt against Rome
70 Destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple
- Remaining Jews congregated in other outskirts of the land, like Galilee
132-135 Bar Kokhba uprising against Rome
- It was at this time that Rome changed the name of the land from Judaea to Syria Palaestina (Palestine)
- This means
*ALL* the inhabitants of the land were no longer known as Judeans but as
Palestinians
- This includes ethnic Jews still living there
- Jews are banned from Jerusalem
312-636 Constantine converts to Christianity. Byzantine ruled.
- Christianity became the primary religion of the empire
- Palestine was also part of the empire.
-
Palestinians were some of the
first converts to Christianity and are the initial reason for a Christian population in the Holy Land
- Palestinian Christians outnumbered Palestinian Jews
- Palestinian Jewish Jews were allowed to practice their faith but couldn't build new synagogues
614 Persians (i.e. Arabs) invaded Roman-ruled Palestine
- Islam was brought into the land
- Many Palestinians convert to Islam
- Converts to Islam included some Palestinian Jews and Palestinian Christians
- Those who did not convert were required to pay tribute
but were otherwise left alone.
- The land is now inhabited by Palestinian Jews (some practicing Torah, some practicing Islam, some practicing Christianity), and Palestinian Arabs (practicing Islam)
636-1099 Arabs rule
- The Arab population grows, outnumbering the native Palestinian population of Jews & Christians
- The Dome of the Rock is built on Temple Mount
- Palestinian Jews were still not allowed to build new places of worship
but were left alone
1099–1291 The Crusades: Christian Crusader Rule
- Palestinian Jews were "
mercilessly persecuted" by Christian crusaders
- As a result, Jews fought alongside Arabs against the Christian Crusaders
1211–1517 Ayyubid Sultanate (Saladin) Rule
- Saladin defeated the Christian Crusaders
- Saladin (an Arab Muslim) issued a proclamation inviting all Jews
to return and settle in Jerusalem
- Immigration of "Jewish" people (converts) into Palestine increased under Saladin
- Jews were eventually caught in the middle of battles between future sultanates and future crusaders
1517–1917 Ottoman Rule
- The land is now inhabited by Palestinian Jews (some practicing Torah, Islam, and Christianity), Palestinian Christians, Palestinian Arabs (practicing Islam and Christianity), and "Jewish" people (European converts to Judaism).
NOTES:
1) Early during the rule of the Ottomans everyone in the land of Palestine was living together within their own communities. There was
no real conflict between Arabs and Jews.
2) The descendants who
never left the land even while ownership changed hands were known as
"Palestinians" (which were a mix of ethnic Arabs and ethnic Jews who practiced either of the three faiths). Meanwhile, those who were immigrating from other European countries were known more and more as "Jewish" or "Jew" even though they were European descendants of
converts to the religion of Judaism.
3)
In 1897 First Zionist Organization was founded; convened by Theodor Herzl in Basel, Switzerland. "European Jews" identified the land of Palestine as Israel and as "theirs".
Sources:
-
Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_and_Judaism_in_the_Land_of_Israel
-
https://embassies.gov.il/UnGeneva/AboutIsrael/history/Pages/History-Israel-Timeline.aspx
- Excerpt from a 12-year-old documentary created by Jewish Israeli & Jewish American historians, and Jewish & American Peace groups, showing the history of the start of the conflict.