Where were the Israelis located before Israel became a nation?

Before the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948, Jews were residing in various locations around the world as members of the Jewish diaspora.

The Jewish diaspora refers to the spread of Jewish communities outside of the Land of Israel (primarily present-day Israel and Palestine) which began with the ancient Babylonian exile in the 6th century BCE. Over the centuries, Jewish communities established themselves in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and other regions.

Prior to the foundation of the State of Israel, significant Jewish populations were found in countries such as Poland, Russia, the United States, Germany, Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, and Persia (Iran).