Israel: A Small Giant with Ancient History and Modern Ambitions:

Israel is a tiny country with a population smaller than that of Moscow alone, and an area comparable to that of the Russian Lipetsk region. Despite its modest size and limited natural resources, this country plays a disproportionately large role on the global stage, influencing politics and sparking fierce debates. But how is this possible?

To understand the current situation, it is necessary to look back at history. Thousands of years ago, there was a Jewish state on this land, which fell to the invaders – the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans. Since then, the Jews have been scattered all over the world, without their own territory, and have been subjected to persecution and discrimination.

National pride and religious beliefs that asserted the chosenness of the Jewish people hindered assimilation. Rebellions against the Romans were suppressed, and Jews were sent into slavery, including in Western Europe. This led to their presence in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

 However, due to their distinct identity and culture, which differed from that of Europe, as well as their involvement in usury, Europeans viewed Jews with suspicion and hostility.

There were pogroms, and they were accused of monstrous crimes, such as ritual murders, desecration of holy sites, poisoning of wells, and ties to the devil. In 1290, the English king ordered all Jews to leave England on pain of death. In the 14th and 15th centuries, Jews were expelled from France, Spain, and Portugal. In many countries, they were forced to live in ghettos. The Crusades also began with pogroms against Jewish communities.

As a result of these persecutions, millions of Jews ended up in what is now Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and later, after the partitions, in Prussia, Austria, and Russia. By the end of the 18th century, approximately 5 million Jews were living in these lands.

 It was this complex and tragic history, filled with persecution and hardship, that shaped modern-day Israel. The desire for self-determination and the establishment of a state where Jews could feel safe became the driving force behind the Zionist movement. But that's a different story, and it only begins to explain why little Israel continues to "nightmare" the world around it, especially its Arab neighbors and, to some extent, Iran.