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Balfour Declaration
Was a statement issued by the British government on November 2, 1917, during World War I. It took the form of a letter from Arthur James Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, to Lord Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community. The declaration expressed the British government's support for the establishment of "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, which at that time was part of the Ottoman Empire. The exact wording was as follows: -
British Mandate for Palestine
Was a legal commission established by the League of Nations, granting Britain administrative control over Palestine after World War I. The mandate officially began on July 24, 1922, though British control of the region had started earlier in 1920, following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire. -
The Arab Revolt
Palestine was a nationalist uprising by Palestinian Arabs against British colonial rule and increasing Jewish immigration. The revolt was fueled by a growing fear among the Arab population that Jewish immigration, supported by the British under the terms of the Balfour Declaration, would lead to the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, undermining Arab aspirations for independence. -
The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine
Two-State Solution:
The plan proposed to partition Palestine into two states: one for the Jewish population (about 55% of the land) and another for the Arab population (about 45%).
The Jewish state was to include the coastal plain, the Galilee, and parts of the Negev desert, while the Arab state was to consist of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. -
The Israeli War of Independence
On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel, just before the expiration of the British Mandate for Palestine. The declaration was met with enthusiasm among Jews, while it sparked outrage among Arab nations and the Palestinian Arab population. The very next day, on May 15, 1948, the armies of neighboring Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, invaded Israel. -
The Suez Crisis
Was a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern geopolitics. The crisis was primarily triggered by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser's nationalization of the Suez Canal, which had previously been controlled by British and French interests. -
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
The PLO's initial objective was to unify various Palestinian groups and represent the Palestinian people in their struggle for self-determination. Its goal was to "liberate Palestine" through armed struggle, with the eventual aim of replacing Israel with an independent Palestinian state. -
The Six-Day War
Was a pivotal conflict between Israel and the neighboring Arab countries of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. It resulted in a decisive Israeli victory and drastically altered the political landscape of the Middle East, with Israel seizing significant territories. -
Camp David Accords
Were a landmark peace agreement signed by Egypt and Israel on September 17, 1978, after 12 days of secret negotiations at Camp David, the U.S. presidential retreat. The talks were mediated by U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and the agreement marked the first peace deal between Israel and an Arab country. -
Lebanon War
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) crossed into Lebanon, aiming to push PLO forces out of artillery range of Israel’s northern towns.
Israel quickly advanced, reaching the outskirts of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Israeli forces laid siege to West Beirut, where PLO fighters were entrenched.
Under international pressure, a ceasefire was negotiated, and by August 1982, PLO forces agreed to evacuate Lebanon. PLO fighters, including leader Yasser Arafat, were relocated to Tunisia. -
Oslo Accords
This agreement was the first serious attempt to find a negotiated solution. It established a framework for peace and the creation of a Palestinian Authority with limited autonomy in certain areas of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. -
The Second Intifada
Was a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation that began in late September 2000 and lasted for several years. It was much more violent than the First Intifada (1987–1993) and was characterized by widespread clashes, suicide bombings, and harsh Israeli military responses. -
WITHDRAWAL FROM GAZA
The disengagement did not bring about peace or an end to violence. Rocket attacks on southern Israel from Gaza continued, leading to multiple escalations and military operations between Israel and Hamas.
The division between Fatah, which governs the West Bank, and Hamas in Gaza further complicated Palestinian politics and efforts toward reconciliation. -
Lebanon War
Also known as the July War or the Second Lebanon War, was a 34-day conflict between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, based in southern Lebanon. The war began on July 12, 2006, and ended with a ceasefire on August 14, 2006. -
Operation Cast Lead
Was a military operation launched by Israel against Hamas in the Gaza Strip between December 27, 2008, and January 18, 2009. The operation was in response to the persistent rocket fire from Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza, targeting Israeli towns and cities.The operation began with massive airstrikes on December 27, 2008, targeting Hamas infrastructure, weapons storage, and rocket-launching sites. -
The 2014 Gaza War, also known as Operation Protective Edge
Was a conflict between Israel and Hamas that lasted from July 8 to August 26, 2014. The war was marked by significant casualties, especially among Palestinian civilians, and extensive destruction in Gaza. -
Recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
President Trump stated that the U.S. would begin the process of moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, affirming that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.
This move reversed decades of U.S. policy that had maintained neutrality regarding the status of Jerusalem, a city with profound religious and historical significance for both Jews and Palestinians. -
Abraham Accords
Marked a significant development in Middle Eastern diplomacy, leading to the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab states, notably the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. The agreements were seen as a breakthrough in a region that had long been characterized by tensions and conflicts.
The accords included commitments to establish diplomatic relations, exchange ambassadors, and promote trade and tourism between the signatory nations. -
2021 Gaza War
The conflict was ignited by tensions in Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan, particularly around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian worshippers occurred, including the eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, which further fueled anger and protests.The conflict escalated quickly, with Hamas firing thousands of rockets towards Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.