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Six-Day War
Egypt wanted the UN to remove its troops from Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula so the Egyptian troops moved into Sinai and began to close off the Gulf of Aquaba, Israel’s route to the Red Sea. After this Israel decided to make the first strike. In this war Israel took control of the Golan Heights, Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East Jerusalem. -
Yom Kippur War
Egypt and Syria were determined to get their territory back from Israel so they launched a surprise attack on Israel. At first Arab troops were making a lot of gains and since Israel wasn’t prepared they needed military support from the U.S. Israeli forces regrouped and pushed back Egyptian and Syrian armies with the support of the United States. -
The Camp David Accords
Egyptian president, Anwar Sadat, declared that Egypt wanted peace with Israel. To help U.S. president, Jimmy Carter, invited Anwar Sadat and Israeli prime minister, Menachem Begin, to Camp David which was the presidential retreat in Maryland. They reached an agreement and finally Egypt recognized Israel and Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. -
The First Intifada
Palestinians were mad because Israel had begun building settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. During the intifada Palestinian youths battled Israeli troops in street violence. Israel responded with strong military and police resistance. -
The Second Intifada
The militant group, Hamas, launched suicide bombings in Israel and an Israeli religious fanatic assasinated Yitzhak Rabin, which was the Israeli prime minister. This caused the second intifada to begin. During the second intifada Hamas sent suicide bombers into Israel to attack civilians and Israelis responded by sending troops backed by tanks, fighter jets, and helicopter gunships into cities in West Bank and Gaza.
