Focus On: Ideas of Nationality
Both Israelis and Palestinians claim national identity and the right to form their own nations.
Those who were born in the British Mandate of Palestine from 1922 to 1948 were known as Palestinian regardless of race, language, religion, or their ancestry.
The definition of who is a Palestinian includes those who are inhabitants of the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, excluding Israeli settlers and the majority of Armenians. As well, Israeli Arabs that include Druz and Bedouin are considered Palestinian. There are a minority of Israeli Jews that are descendents from those who lived in the British Mandate of Palestine who are Palestinians. Those who were born in the British Mandate of Palestine, but moved to other countries are still Palestinian.
Within Israel the population is mixed with about 19.5 percent made up of Arab Israelis. The Arab Israelis are made up of Muslim and Christians. The remainder of the population of Israel is Jewish.
Both the Palestinian and the Israeli groups can be defined as national groups that make national claims to territory.
