There were 12 tribes of Israel, founded by the 12 sons of Jacob. Israelites were members or descendants of the Tribes of Israel. In 1948, the country of Israel was formed. Residents and citizens of the country of Israel are called Israeli, whether or not they are descendants of the Tribe of Israel, or even Jewish. Israelite is based on family; Israeli is based on country of birth or residence.

Before 1948, there were no Israelis anywhere. If you’re writing about ancient Hebrews, they were Israelites.

Israeli Vs Israelite

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RE:
Difference between Israeli and Israelite? Which do I use?
Im working on an essay for my Western Civ class and getting to a part about the "ancient Hebrews" (Saul, David, Moses, etc) would they have been Israelis or Israelites? Does it matter which I use?

I think for ancient peoples the word used was Israelite. Israeli is a more modern word.

in 1948 the country was Palestine the Jews came and expelled the inhabitants by force and established the Jewish country of Israel and started the reunion o Jews in to the so called ”ancient homeland”. Palestinians on the other hand are still working to get their lands back (i.e. to delete Israel from the map) An Israeli is a person who has Israeli nationality… there are Palestinian Israelis but they are considered second class citizens. Any Jew can acquire Israeli citizenship by moving to Israel. (Muslim and Christian Palestinian Israelis don’t join the army only the Druze and those of Circassian ancestry do) Palestinian Jews were few before the establishment of Israel, but they were now mostly absorbed by Israel. So no, now there aren’t any Palestinian Jews. Half the Palestinian people are stateless, the remaining portions of West Bank and Gaza are suffering and the people who lived in what is now Israel have Immigrated to the W.B., Gaza, and neighbouring countries like Jordan, Syria and Lebanon… they firstly lived in camps but those lands they own by the UN now were developed from camps into slums and places of really high population density…. but few remained in their place and were allowed to stay in Israel. There are also many people of Palestinian descent in the Americas, Australia and Europe (Chile has 0.5 million) Before Israel was established Palestine was 25% Christian and there were also Druze, and few Jews and Baha’is. Arabs are the sum of peoples who speak Arabic while Persians speak Persians that’s all… Religiously most Persians are Shiite Muslims while most Arabic speaking peoples are Sunnis except in Iraq and Lebanon were there is a large Shiite population approximately equal to the Sunni one.. Also, some areas of Saudi Arabia are shiite.

Israelite is a descendant of one of the seven tribes of Judah.

Israelis are people from Israel.

Israel was formed after WWII, so roughly around 1946. So was Iraq, Iran, and most of the other middle eastern nations.

Israelites are gods chosen people, above all other nations. Israel is Gods chosen land. The Israelites are made up of 12 tribes. Judah, Benjamin, Levi, Ephraim etc. These were shipped into america and the small islands to be sold as slaves. The BLACKS in america and small islands. It is a Birth Right to be a child of the 12 tribes of Israel. Which remains in bondage til this day. Whose slave masters are the European Bankers. But they must turn back to their God and Repent towards their homeland JERUSALEM. Israeli’s are just fighting for a land that belongs to the MOSTHIGH and his chosen children, the twelve tribes of Israel.

Israelites are the ancient Hebrews. Israelis are modern day inhabitants of Israel.

Israelis is present tense, living there. Israelites is past tense, they moved from their homeland to another place.