Final answer:
The Israelites are historically a Semitic-speaking people who developed Judaism, with their history recorded in the Tanakh. Their origins trace back to ancient Canaan and their identity has endured through the Jewish Diaspora and the establishment of Israel.
Step-by-step explanation:
The identity of the Israelites is intricately linked to their history and religious heritage. According to the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible, the Israelites are a group of Semitic-speaking Canaanites who developed the monotheistic faith of Judaism.
Their history, as recorded in this text, describes their ancient origins, including their life in Canaan, the Exodus from Egypt led by Moses, and subsequent events such as the construction of a united monarchy and the Babylonian exile. Archeological evidence has helped trace the Hebrew settlement in Canaan around 1200 BCE.