In Israel, John Demjanjuk is sentenced to death for war crimes committed in World War II.

Nestled at the crossroads of three continents in Western Asia, the State of Israel, known officially as Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl in Hebrew and Dawlat ʾIsrāʾīl in Arabic, is a country with a profound and often tumultuous history. Its strategic geographical position places it on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea, making it a pivotal link between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Israel shares land borders with Lebanon to its north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest. Additionally, it is bordered by the Palestinian territories, specifically the West Bank to the east and the Gaza Strip to the west. While Tel Aviv thrives as the country's vibrant economic and technological hub, the seat of government is firmly established in Jerusalem, Israel's proclaimed capital. However, it's important to note that Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem remains widely unrecognized by the international community.

A Journey Through Time: Israel's Enduring History

The land that constitutes modern-day Israel bears witness to some of humanity's earliest chapters, with archaeological evidence suggesting it was a corridor for hominid migrations out of Africa. As history unfolded, the region became home to diverse cultures and civilizations. Canaanite tribes left their mark, archaeologically attested since the Middle Bronze Age. Later, during the Iron Age, the foundational kingdoms of Israel and Judah emerged, shaping much of the region's early identity and religious heritage. The northern Kingdom of Israel tragically fell to the might of the Neo-Assyrian Empire around 720 BCE, while the Kingdom of Judah was incorporated into the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 586 BCE. This latter event led to a significant portion of the Judean population being exiled to Babylon, a period that deeply influenced Jewish identity. Yet, a remarkable return followed when Cyrus the Great conquered the region, allowing many exiles to come back and rebuild.

Subsequent centuries saw shifts in power, including the inspiring Maccabean Revolt against Seleucid rule, which paved the way for an independent Hasmonean kingdom by 110 BCE. However, this independence was short-lived. By 63 BCE, the kingdom became a client state of the burgeoning Roman Republic, leading to the installation of the Herodian dynasty by 37 BCE. Ultimately, in 6 CE, the former kingdom was fully integrated into the Roman Empire as the province of Judaea (Latin: Iudaea). A series of unsuccessful Jewish revolts during the first and second centuries CE culminated in devastating consequences, including the destruction of Jerusalem, the widespread expulsion of many Jews, and the symbolic renaming of Iudaea to Syria Palaestina by the Roman authorities. The 7th century CE marked another significant transition as Arab forces seized the Byzantine-ruled Levant, incorporating it into the vast Rashidun Caliphate. The region largely remained under Muslim control for centuries, though the First Crusade (1096–1099) briefly re-established a Christian sovereign presence. Crusader rule was partly challenged by the Ayyubids in 1187 but ultimately persisted until 1291. By the end of the 13th century, the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt extended its dominion over the region, a control that lasted until its defeat by the ascendant Ottoman Empire in 1516.

The 19th century ushered in a new era of national awakening among Jews worldwide, giving rise to Zionism. This movement advocated for the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, historically known as the Land of Israel, a vision that spurred significant waves of immigration by diaspora Jews to the region.

Modern Israel: Formation, Conflict, and Progress

Following the conclusion of World War I, the entire territory encompassing present-day Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Jordan came under British control as a League of Nations mandate. After the devastation of World War II, the newly formed United Nations stepped in, adopting the Partition Plan for Palestine in 1947. This plan recommended the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states, alongside an internationally administered Jerusalem. While the Jewish Agency accepted the proposal, it was rejected by Arab leaders in the region. A civil war erupted within Mandatory Palestine between the Yishuv (the Jewish community) and Palestinian Arab forces. This internal conflict intensified, and upon the termination of the British Mandate, Israel declared its independence in 1948. This declaration swiftly led to the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, involving Israel and several surrounding Arab states. The war concluded with the 1949 Armistice Agreements, which saw Israel in control of most of the former mandate territory, while the West Bank and Gaza came under the administration of Jordan and Egypt, respectively.

Since its founding, Israel has been involved in several conflicts with Arab countries. A pivotal moment was the Six-Day War in June 1967, after which Israel occupied several territories. Today, Israel continues to occupy the Golan Heights and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The status of Gaza as occupied territory following the Israeli disengagement in 2005 remains a subject of international dispute. Israel has effectively annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, actions that have been widely rejected as illegal by the international community. Furthermore, Israel has established settlements within the occupied territories, which the international community also considers illegal under international law. Despite ongoing efforts, a final peace agreement to resolve the complex Israeli–Palestinian conflict has yet to be reached. Nevertheless, Israel has made strides in regional diplomacy, signing peace treaties with both Egypt and Jordan, and more recently normalizing relations with a number of other Arab countries.

Governance, Economy, and Society

In its foundational Basic Laws, Israel proudly defines itself as both a Jewish and a democratic state, serving as the nation-state of the Jewish people. The country operates as a robust liberal democracy, characterized by a parliamentary system, proportional representation, and universal suffrage for all eligible citizens. The Prime Minister holds the executive power as the head of government, while the Knesset functions as the unicameral legislative body responsible for enacting laws. Israel is recognized as a highly developed country and is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). As of 2021, its population exceeded 9 million people. Economically, it boasts the world's 31st-largest economy by nominal GDP, a significant achievement, especially considering its ongoing regional conflicts, making it the most developed country currently engaged in such circumstances.

The standard of living in Israel is notably the highest in the Middle East, and the country consistently ranks high on the global Human Development Index (HDI) list. Beyond economic metrics, Israel also stands out globally in several other areas, including the percentage of its citizens with military training, the percentage of citizens holding a tertiary education degree, research and development spending as a percentage of GDP, women's safety, life expectancy, innovativeness, and overall happiness. These indicators paint a picture of a dynamic, resilient, and forward-looking society.

John Demjanjuk: A Complex Legal Odyssey

John Demjanjuk, born Ivan Mykolaiovych Demjanjuk in Soviet Ukraine on April 3, 1920, and passing away on March 17, 2012, was a Ukrainian-American whose life became entangled with the atrocities of World War II and a series of high-profile war crimes trials. He served as a Trawniki man, a term for Eastern European collaborators trained by the SS, and as a Nazi camp guard at various locations, including the Sobibor extermination camp, Majdanek, and Flossenbürg concentration camp. Demjanjuk garnered global media attention in the 1980s when he faced trial in Israel. He was initially convicted after being misidentified as "Ivan the Terrible," a notoriously cruel watchman at the Treblinka extermination camp. However, this verdict was dramatically overturned in 1993. Years later, shortly before his death, he was tried and convicted in Germany as an accessory to 28,000 murders committed at Sobibor.

Demjanjuk's journey began with his conscription into the Red Army in 1940. He fought in World War II until he was captured by German forces in the spring of 1942. It was during his captivity that he was recruited by the Germans and subsequently trained at the Trawniki concentration camp. Following this training, he was deployed to serve at the Sobibor extermination camp and at least two other concentration camps. After the war, Demjanjuk met and married a woman in a West German displaced persons camp, and together they emigrated to the United States with their daughter. They settled in Seven Hills, Ohio, where he worked in an auto factory and raised three children. Demjanjuk became a naturalized US citizen in 1958, seemingly putting his past behind him.

However, his past resurfaced dramatically in August 1977, when he was accused of having been a Trawniki man. Based on compelling eyewitness testimony from Holocaust survivors in Israel, he was identified as the infamous Treblinka extermination camp guard known as "Ivan the Terrible." Demjanjuk was extradited to Israel in 1986 to stand trial. In 1988, he was convicted and sentenced to death, a judgment he vehemently contested, claiming it was a clear case of mistaken identity. His insistence proved to be partially correct; in 1993, the Israeli Supreme Court overturned the verdict, citing new evidence that introduced reasonable doubt regarding his identity as "Ivan the Terrible." While the judges acknowledged there was sufficient evidence to indicate Demjanjuk had indeed served at Sobibor, Israel ultimately chose not to pursue further prosecution for those specific charges. In September 1993, Demjanjuk was permitted to return to Ohio.

The legal pursuit, however, was far from over. In 1999, US prosecutors once again sought to deport Demjanjuk for having served as a concentration camp guard, leading to the revocation of his US citizenship in 2002. In 2009, Germany requested his extradition for over 27,900 counts of acting as an accessory to murder, with each count representing a person killed at Sobibor during his alleged tenure as a guard. He was deported from the US to Germany that same year. On May 12, 2011, Demjanjuk was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison. Legal scholar Lawrence Douglas observed that, despite serious missteps along the way, the German verdict ultimately brought the case "to a worthy and just conclusion." Following his conviction, Demjanjuk was released pending appeal. He resided at a German nursing home in Bad Feilnbach, where he died on March 17, 2012. Due to his death occurring before a final judgment on his appeal could be issued, under German law, Demjanjuk technically remains innocent. In January 2020, a photograph album belonging to Sobibor guard Johann Niemann was made public, with some historians suggesting that a guard depicted in two of the photos could potentially be Demjanjuk, adding another layer to his complex and controversial legacy.

FAQs About Israel and John Demjanjuk

What is the official name of Israel?
The official name is the State of Israel, known as Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl in Hebrew and Dawlat ʾIsrāʾīl in Arabic.
Where is Israel geographically located?
Israel is located in Western Asia, on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea. It borders Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Why is Jerusalem's status as Israel's capital complex?
While Israel proclaims Jerusalem as its capital and its seat of government is there, particularly in West Jerusalem, its sovereignty over East Jerusalem remains widely unrecognized by the international community. This is a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
What is Zionism?
Zionism is a national awakening movement among Jews that emerged in the 19th century, advocating for the return of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, historically known as the Land of Israel. It led to significant immigration of diaspora Jews to the region.
When did Israel declare its independence?
Israel declared independence in 1948, following the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and a civil war within the territory.
What does it mean for Israel to be a "Jewish and democratic state"?
In its Basic Laws, Israel defines itself as both a Jewish state, reflecting its role as the nation-state of the Jewish people and embodying Jewish culture and heritage, and a democratic state, ensuring a parliamentary system, proportional representation, universal suffrage, and a liberal democracy for all its citizens.
Who was John Demjanjuk?
John Demjanjuk was a Ukrainian-American who served as a Nazi camp guard, specifically as a "Trawniki man," at extermination camps like Sobibor and concentration camps like Majdanek and Flossenbürg during World War II. He became the subject of extensive international legal proceedings for his alleged wartime actions.
Why was Demjanjuk's conviction in Israel overturned?
His 1988 conviction in Israel, where he was identified as "Ivan the Terrible" from Treblinka, was overturned by the Israeli Supreme Court in 1993 due to new evidence that cast reasonable doubt on his identity as that specific individual. While the court acknowledged evidence of his service at Sobibor, Israel chose not to prosecute him further at that time for those actions.
What was Demjanjuk ultimately convicted of?
Shortly before his death in 2012, Demjanjuk was tried and convicted in Germany as an accessory to 28,000 murders at the Sobibor extermination camp. He was found guilty for his role as a camp guard, aiding in the systemic killing of Jewish prisoners, even without proof of specific individual acts of murder.