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Birth of Zionism
First Zionist Congress held in Basel, Switzerland, organized by Theodor Herzl, formerly launches drive for Jewish return to the Land of Israel -
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Arab Nationalism grows
Ruled by the Ottoman Turks since the early 16th Century, Arabs in Palestine become anxious to establish their own antion as the Ottoman Empire begins to weaken -
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World War I
Great Britain makes two sets of promises. To Arabs, in exchange for their hlp in defeating the Ottoman Empire, the British promise independence after the war. For Jews, they promise support for a Jewish homeland. -
Husayn-McMahon Agreement
Arabs declare that they want part of the Ottoman lands at the end of the war, including Palestine -
Sykes-Picot Agreement
If Ottomans lose the war, Arab territories should be divided between Britain and France and ruled by a mandate system. -
Balfour Declaration
Great Britain, in Balfour Declaration, support creation of "national home" for Jews in Palestine. -
British Mandate
League of Nations establishes British Mandate over Palestine and directs Britain to encourage "close settlement of Jews upon the lnad." -
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Jewish migration
250,000 Jews, one-quarter of them refugees from Nazi Germany, arrive in Palestine -
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WWII and Holocaust
A estimated 6,000,000 Jews are killed under the Nzai regime. Germany is defeated by Allied forces in 1945. After the war, support for Jewish homeland increases. -
UN Proposal on Partition
UN proposes partition of Palestine into Arab states and a Jewish state. Arab leaders reject partition. -
State of Israel comes into existence
Israel is recognized by the US. Total Jewish population is 650,000 -
War of Independence
War begins as Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria invade Israel. Israel defeats their combined armies and enlarges its territory. Jerusalem is now split between Jordan and Israel Nearly 1 million Palestinians are left without homes after the war. -
First Knesset convenes
David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, convenes Knesset. Signs armistice with neighboring Arab countries. Jerusalem divided--western half to Israel, easterh half to Jordan -
Law of Return
Knesset passes Law of Return, granting all Jews the right to immigrate to Israel -
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Israel Builds
More than 1 million Jewish immigrants arrive in Israel to build a new nation. -
Suez Crisis
Egypt nationalizes Suez Canal--which was run by the British--closing it to Israeli shipping. Israel invades Gaza Strip and Sinai, but withdraws under US pressure. -
PLO established
Palestinian LIberatin Organization established to represent those who have been removed from the land of Palestine. Based in Jordan, it is dedicated to the destruction of Israel and the return of land to Palestinian Arabs -
Six-Day War (June 6-11)
Israel launches preemptive strike against Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. Israel gains control of Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and West Bank. Jerusalem reunited -
Yassir Arafat elected as chairman of PLO
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1972 Munich Olympics
11 Israeli athletes are killed in the Olympic Village in Germany by Palestinian extremists while the world watches -
Yom Kippur War
Syria and Egypt attack Israeli forces on Golan Heights and Suez Canal. After early reversals, Israel closes in on Damascus and crosses Suez Canal. Cease-fire declared and Israel later withdraws from Golan Heights and parts of the Sinai -
Recognition for PLO
Arab states recognize PLO as "sole, legitimate representative" of the Palestinian people. UN grants the PLO "non-voting observer" status. -
Camp David Accords
Jimmy Carter, President Anwar Sadat and Prime Minister Menachen Begin conclude peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, First Arab country to recognize Israel as a state. Israel withdraws from the Sinai Peninsula. The PLO rejects the Accords. -
Sadat assassinated
Anwar Sadat is assassinated -
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Flawed Peace
Arabs and Israelis can't agree on the meaning of "self government" Arabs believe it means the creation of a Palestinian state while Israelis say it means "self-rule" under Israeli control. -
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First Intifada
Arabic for "shaking off"--Angered by Israel's continuing occupation of West back ang Gaza, Palestinians begin an uprising, with stone-throwing youths attacking Israelis soldiers. The first suicide attack on Israeli civilians is 1989. -
The Gulf War: 1990-91
Iraq invades Kuwait. The PLO sides with Iraq but other Arab nations split. Iraq fires missiles at Israel hoping to draw it into war. US-led coaltion defeats Iraq and Saddam Hussein. -
Oslo Accords :1993-94
After secret negotiations in Norway, Israel turns over control of parts of the West bank and Gaza to Palestinians. Led by Yasir Arafat, Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist. In 1994, Israel and Jordan sign a peace treaty and ends their official state of war. -
Rabin assassinated
Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, who signed the Oslo Accord, is assassinated by a Jewish extremist. -
Netanyahu Elected
Benjamin Netanyahu, an opponent of the Oslo Accords, is eleced prime minister. The peace process stalls. -
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Second Intifada
Yasir Arafat rejects a final settlement with Israel negotiated by Bill Clinton. In 2000, a second, more violent, uprising begins. Suicide bombings and Israeli crackdowns leave 4,000 Palestinians and over 1,000 Israelis dead., -
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Security Barrier
Israel begins to construct a "separation barrier" to keep Palestinian terrorists out of Israel from the West Bank. Suicide bombings drop 90%, but the path makes it difficult on the daily lives of Palestinians. -
Gaza Pullout: 2005-2006
Israel acts to "disengage" from the Palestinians, withdrawing settlers and troops from the Gaza. -
Hamas Victory
In January, the Islamic militant group, Hamas, which the US considers a terrorsit group, wins Palestinian elections. The US and other countries cut off aid to Palestinians. -
Gaza Takeover by Hamas :2007-08
Civil war erupts in Gaza and Hamas defeats forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, who retains power in the West Bank. In January, 2008, President Bush promotes a new peace effort, but it falls short due ot violence in the region.
