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For nearly 3,000 years the land of Israel has been at the heart of the Jewish people - the homeland from where its ancient traditions, culture and values have emanated. From the kingdom of David and Solomon to Roman and Ottoman rule; from life in exile to the horrors of the Holocaust, the yearning for a Jewish state in Israel has been a dream of the Jewish people from time immemorial.
Dreams turned to reality in 1948, when the modern state of Israel was established. Based on the tenants of Zionism, Jews once again controlled their destiny in a sovereign state on the ancient land of their forefathers. Since her re-establishment, Israel has served as a refuge for Jews the world over, a country built on the principles of freedom and democracy, fulfilling a political and historical imperative.
For decades, the United States and Israel have shared a deep strategic relationship aimed at confronting the common threats to both nations. During the Cold War, the United States and Israel collaborated in limiting Soviet influence in the region. Today, in the post-9/11 world, Israel remains America's most reliable and stable Middle Eastern ally, working to defeat common threats and supporting America's regional and global policy objectives.
- Learn about how Israel is a strategic asset for the United States.
Over just six decades, Israel has grown from a country born into unrelenting adversity into a nation of limitless progress: a defender of free speech and minority rights, an outpost of women's rights, a beacon of science and higher learning, an open door for immigrants - an outstretched hand to a world in need. Because of her unwavering commitment to democratic ideals, Israel is America's indispensable ally in a sea of dictatorships.
As a modern state, Israel continues to fulfill its ancient obligation as a "light unto the nations." Read more about Israel's global contributions to science, technology, the arts and humanitarian development:
