The Arab-Israeli conflict has its roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, stemming from the rise of nationalist movements among both Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. Jewish nationalism, or Zionism, sought to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which they viewed as their historical and biblical territory. This clashed with the aspirations of the Arab population, who had been living there for centuries. Tensions escalated after the British Mandate for Palestine, the Balfour Declaration, and subsequent migration of Jewish settlers, leading to violence and confrontation. The conflict further deepened after the establishment of Israel in 1948 and has remained a highly contentious and multifaceted issue.