Jihad - The Meaning

Sorry if this is open somewhere else but I am following someone's suggestion in another thread to start this topic and ask the question: What does Jihad mean? Or what is the meaning of it?

I always thought it meant Holy War but maybe I got the wrong end of the stick here!

Could someone please explain it to me?

Why has Jihad come to be interpreted as Holy War?

Why is it used to describe the conflict between Isreal and the rest of the Middle East?

I am not trying to insult or provoke, I am genuinely interested to know

Jihad

It is an Arabic word the root of which is Jahada, which means to strive for a better way of life. The nouns are Juhd, Mujahid, Jihad, and Ijtihad. The other meanings are: endeavor, strain, exertion, effort, diligence, fighting to defend one's life, land, and religion.

Jihad should not be confused with Holy War; the latter does not exist in Islam nor will Islam allow its followers to be involved in a Holy War. The latter refers to the Holy War of the Crusaders.

Jihad is not a war to force the faith on others, as many people think of it. It should never be interpreted as a way of compulsion of the belief on others, since there is an explicit verse in the Qur'an that says:"There is no compulsion in religion" Al-Qur'an: Al-Baqarah (2:256).

Jihad is not a defensive war only, but a war against any unjust regime. If such a regime exists, a war is to be waged against the leaders, but not against the people of that country. People should be freed from the unjust regimes and influences so that they can freely choose to believe in Allah.

Not only in peace but also in war Islam prohibits terrorism, kidnapping, and hijacking, when carried against civilians. Whoever commits such violations is considered a murderer in Islam, and is to be punished by the Islamic state. during wars, Islam prohibits Muslim soldiers from harming civilians, women, children, elderly, and the religious men like priests and rabies. It also prohibits cutting down trees and destroying civilian constructions.

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/glossary/term.JIHAD.ht ml