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Creation of Political Zionism
In the late 1800s the persecution of Jews was becoming common, especially in Russia and Poland. Theodor Herzl, the founder of political Zionism, believed the establishment of a Jewish state was necessary to protect them, and that it was no longer just a religious matter but a political one. He organised a world congress of Zionists and was the first president of the World Zionist Organisation. This movement gained popularity amongst Jewish people, and led to the creation of Israel as we know it. -
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McMahon - Hussein Correspondence
Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca, was a predominant Arabic leader. Sir Henry McMahon was the British High commissioner in Egypt. The correspondence between them was a number of letters regarding British-Arabic alliances. The letters promised Arabic support for the British who were fighting the Ottoman empire, in exchange for Turkish held-Arabic land to be returned to the Arabic people after the war. The Balfour deceleration later published directly contradicted this agreement. -
Sykes-Picot Agreement
The Sykes-Picot agreement was a negotiation between the French and British, with agreement of Russia. It determined the dissection of land ruled by the Ottoman Empire, and who would take the land after the fall of the Ottomans. The name of the agreement comes from its negotiators, Sir Mark Sykes of Britain and Francois Georges Picot of France. Under this agreement the land of Palestine fell under neither French or British power, but an international regime as many had an interest in the land. -
Balfour Declaration
The Balfour Declaration was a letter written by the foreign secretary for Britain November 1917. It declared support for the establishment of a 'national Jewish home' in Palestine, despite Britain's earlier agreement with the Palestinians. After Britain's announcement of support, many Jews migrated to Palestine, so the Jewish population there increased quickly. Though Israel wasn't established until decades later, the Balfour Declaration made a huge impact on the Zionist movement. -
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Holocaust Period
In terms of the Israel Palestine conflict not much significant happened during the period of world war two. However, due to the persecution of Jews all around Europe, the percentage of Jews in Palestine rose from 16.9% in 1931 to 33% in 1946, as many Jews were forced to flee Europe. There was a lot of unrest amongst Palestinians with the amount of Jews in their country rapidly increasing, so Britain was forced to step in by banning all Jewish migration to Palestine. -
UN Partition Plan
After antisemitism reached an all-time high during the holocaust, international sympathy grew for the cause of Zionism. In 1947 the UN developed and approved a partition plan that split Palestine into two - a Jewish and a Palestinian state. Jerusalem fell under international power, but was located in Palestine. The land was split so that 55% belonged to the Jewish, and 45% to the Palestinians, despite 67% of the population being Palestinian. -
State of Israel is Founded
After years of trying to establish Jewish home, Israel proclaimed itself a state in 1948. The USA was the first nation to recognise Israel, however, they recognised it as a de facto nation, meaning it existed in reality but not law. The USSR was first to recognise it as a de jure state, meaning legal recognition. Israel was immediately attacked by the surrounding Arab nations including Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Syria, but retaliated, pushing back Palestinian borders and claiming 78% of the land. -
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Israeli Settlements in West Bank
Since the Six-Day War Israel has been building settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank. Despite constant international scrutiny and the fact that the settlements are illegal, Israel has continued to create towns there. Not only are these settlements stealing land, they are also located on the best land in the West Bank. This has amounted to all Israelis having access to improved drinking water, when only 58.4% of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza do, as well as other complications. -
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War took place from June 5 1967 to June 10 1967. It saw Israel fight Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Iraq. Though it was only six days, it dramatically changed the whole Israel/Palestine conflict. The outcome was a decisive Israeli victory, as they captured the Sinai Peninsula, West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights. Somewhere between 13 000 and 24 000 Arabs were killed, including Egyptians, Syrians, Jordanians and Iraqis. Israel had just under 1000 casualties. -
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords that were signed on September 17 1978 were agreements between Israel and Egypt. Brokered by American president Jimmy Carter, the Accords was the first peace deal Israel made with any of its Arabic neighbours, and symbolised the beginning of attempting peace. It was officially titled “Framework for Peace in the Middle East,” but is more commonly known as the Camp David Accords, as the US president's retreat in Camp David, Maryland, was where the negotiations happened. -
Hamas Founded
In 1987 there was a traffic incident where Palestinians were killed at the hand of an Israeli driver. It was followed by uprisings against the settlements and occupation in Gaza and the West Bank, and led 7 Palestinians to found Hamas. Hamas is a fundamentalist organisation based in Gaza, whose ideals are based on antisemitism and a the goal of a singular Islamic State. They have governed the Gaza Strip since 2007 when they won a majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament. -
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First Intifada
The first intifada was a mass Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, killings and demolitions. It officially began on December 9 1987 sparked by a car accident, but tension between Palestinians and Israelis had been escalating for years. The signing of the Oslo Accords ended the intifada, Palestine having suffered over a thousand casualties, and Israel over 200. Sympathy grew for Palestinians when images depicted civilians and children throwing rocks and debris at Israeli tanks. -
Signing of the Oslo Accords
The signing of the Oslo Accords was the first step in the almost decade long Oslo peace process attempt. It was the first time Israel accepted the Palestine Liberation Organisation as representative to the Palestinian people, and Palestine recognised Israel's right to peace as well as renouncing terrorism. Both sides agreed for the establishment of a Palestinian authority that would govern the West Bank and Gaza, and for talks about pressing issues for both peoples to be held. -
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Second Intifada
The Second Intifada was even more violent and disastrous than the first. It started when Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount, a holy site for Arabs, Jews and Christians. However, the Palestinians saw the move as provocative, so Palestinian demonstrators acted violently towards police. The death toll is estimated at 1000 Israelis and 3000 Palestinians. Although there is no official end date, the leaders of both countries announced a cease-fire on February 8 2005. -
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Palestine/Israel Wall
At more than twice the height and almost five times the length of the Berlin wall, the wall along the West Bank has devastated many lives. It was said to be for security reasons along the border of the West Bank and Israel, but it was built east from the border and many say that it's an attempt to take Palestinian land. The wall severely restricts Palestinians from going about their lives as they try to travel to work or school. 10% of land in the West Bank is on the Israeli side of the wall. -
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Gaza Blockade
Since the 1990s Israel has been restricting Gaza's borders. After Hamas won Palestinian popularity and took control of the Gaza Strip in 2006, Israel implemented a full blockade around Gaza in 2007. Israel has complete control over all airspace, waters and land surrounding Gaza, and controls what and who goes in and out, making it impossible for the economy and people of Gaza to thrive. 1.8 millions people are 'trapped' inside Gaza, making the population extremely dense due to the small area. -
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Gaza War 2008-2009
The 2008-2009 Gaza War was a three-week conflict between Israel and Palestinians of the Gaza Strip. Israel's goal was to stop Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza into Israel and weapons smuggling into Gaza. The death toll in his war was predominately Palestinian. Only 13 Israelis died while almost 1500 Palestinians were killed in the conflict. This was came after an unsuccessfully implemented six-month cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Egypt. -
2014 Gaza War
The 2014 Gaza-Israel conflict began in June 2014. Israel's mission was to once again stop rocket fire from Gaza to Israel. It sparked a seven week conflict that killed thousands and destroyed homes. It lasted for 50 days ending in a truce, but the damage could not be undone. The war was devastating to Gazans with thousands dead and thousands homeless. The UN also acknowledged there was evidence of war crimes committed by both sides.
