Yes. It was under Turkish control, and then British. The land was offered to various groups (including Jew) under the Balfour Declaration.
While there was migration to Israel in the late 1800's, it increased at the turn of the century. In 1896 Theodore Herzl writes The Jewish State, stating "[t]he idea which I have developed in this pamphlet is a very old one: it is the restoration of the Jewish state." Herzl is considered the Father of Zionism, a political movement to create a Jewish state. Jews began migrating to Israel at the turn of the century.
In return for supporting the Allies in WWI, the Jews were promised a "national home" within the area called Palestine.
Another shorter summary is attached.
ETA: Edit for a really bad typo!
Modern Jewish State
Updated On: 6/8/10 at 04:23 PM