What Is Israel? The Truth Behind the Name and the Land

Today, many people hear the word “Israel” and think it means a country — a political state occupying the land of Palestine. But this idea is deeply misleading.

To know the truth, we must look back — not just to 1948, but to ancient history and Jewish scripture. Only then can we understand what “Israel” really means — and what it does not mean.

🔹 1. Israel Was Never a Land — It Was a Man

In the Jewish scriptures (Tanakh), “Israel” was the name given to a prophet: Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham.

📖 Genesis 32:28:

“Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have prevailed.”

So originally, Israel was not a country or a territory — it was the name of a righteous man, the grandson of Prophet Abraham.

🔹 2. Israel Became a People — Not a Nation-State

Jacob (Israel) had 12 sons, and from them came the Twelve Tribes of Israel — known as B’nei Yisrael or the Children of Israel.

They were a community of people, united by blood, faith, and tradition — not a political empire.

🔹 3. Ancient “Kingdom of Israel” No Longer Exists

Yes, in ancient times (around 1000 BCE), the descendants of Jacob formed a kingdom in parts of the land known as Canaan.

Under Kings David and Solomon, the tribes were united briefly.
Afterward, the kingdom split into two and was eventually destroyed by Assyrians and Babylonians.

That kingdom ceased to exist over 2,500 years ago. It has nothing to do with today’s modern state called “Israel.”

🔹 4. The Land Was Always Palestine

The land that the modern State of Israel now occupies has been known for centuries as Palestine — recognized by historians, geographers, and colonial powers alike.

It was called Filastin in Arabic.
It appeared as “Palestina” on Roman and later British maps.
It was home to Muslims, Christians, and Jews, living together for generations.

The Zionist movement, which emerged in the late 1800s, aimed to create a Jewish-only state in this land — ignoring the people who were already living there.

In 1948, through force, war, and expulsion, Palestine was taken and renamed “Israel.”
Over 750,000 Palestinians were displaced, and many still live in refugee camps to this day.

🔹 5. Not All Jews Support the Zionist State

It is critical to understand:
Zionism ≠ Judaism.

Many Jewish religious scholars and communities — even today — oppose Zionism.
They believe the return to the Holy Land must come from God, not by military or political power.
Groups like Neturei Karta openly reject the modern state of Israel as illegitimate and against Jewish law.

🔹 6. So What Is Israel, Really?

Let’s be clear:

✅ Israel was a man — Prophet Jacob
✅ Israel became a people — the Children of Israel
❌ Israel was never a land
❌ Israel is not the name of any eternal country
❌ The land was, and remains, Palestine

✅ Conclusion: Know the Truth. Don’t Be Misled.

The modern Zionist state of Israel is a political invention, not a religious truth.

It was created through colonial intervention, ethnic cleansing, and injustice.

When people confuse “Israel” the prophet with “Israel” the occupier, they accept a false narrative — one that continues to erase Palestinian identity and justify oppression.

Let us return to the truth:

Palestine is the land. Israel was a people. Zionism is the lie.

Shifan Yang

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