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1947 UN Partition Plan
Despite strong Arab opposition, the UN votes for the partition of Palestine and the creation of an independent Jewish state. In 1947, the UN proposed a plan to partition Palestine into two sections: an independent Jewish state and an independent Arab state. The city of Jerusalem was to be an international territory with a special status. (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-n-votes-for-partition-of-palestine) (https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/palestine) -
Israel Declares Independence
David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. Ben-Gurion became Israel’s first premier. Israel declared its independence during the War of Independence, which broke out following the rejection of the United Nations’ Partition Plan. (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/state-of-israel-proclaimed)(https://main.knesset.gov.il/EN/About/Pages/independence.aspx) -
Ma’ale Akrabim Massacre
The Ma'ale Akrabim Massacre (the Scorpions Pass Massacre) was an attack on an Israeli passenger bus by Arab fedayeen. Eleven passengers were shot and killed by the attackers who ambushed and boarded the bus. Scorpions Pass is an old road connecting Eilat and Beersheba, south of Makhtesh Katan, and around 60 miles south of Beersheba. The pass was on the primary route between Eilat and central Israel in 1954. (https://www.isracast.com/maale-akrabim-massacre/) -
Six Day War
The Six-Day War was a conflict fought in June 1967 between Israel and the Arab states of Egypt (Syria and Jordan). Israel Defense Forces launched air strikes that wounded the air forces of Egypt and its allies. Israel then took the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. The brief war ended with a U.N.-negotiated ceasefire. (https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/six-day-war) -
Battle of Yom Kippur
On October 6, 1973, Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a coordinated attack against Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. Taking the Israeli Defense Forces by surprise, Egyptian troops went into the Sinai Peninsula, while Syria struggled to throw occupying Israeli troops out of the Golan Heights. However, Israel counterattacked and recaptured the Golan Heights. A cease-fire went into effect on October 25, 1973. (https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/yom-kippur-war) -
Signing of Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were arranged on Sept. 17, 1978, by President Jimmy Carter. Potential Palestinian peace proposals were discussed, but never carried out. The Accords were a series of agreements signed by The Egyptian President and Israeli Prime Minister. President Jimmy Carter brought the two sides together, and the accords were signed. (https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/camp-david-accords) -
First Oslo Accords Signed
The Oslo Accords were a set of two separate agreements signed by the government of Israel and the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization. The first Oslo Accords were approved in Washington, D.C., in 1993. Israel accepted the PLO as the representative of the Palestinians, and the PLO renounced terrorism and recognized Israel’s right to exist in peace. (https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/oslo-accords) -
Second Intifada
The Second Intifada started on 28 September 2000, after Ariel Sharon made a visit to the Temple Mount, an area sacred to both Jews and Muslims, accompanied by over 1,000 security guards. The grassroots protests and violence soon turned to deadly terrorism targeting Israeli civilians on buses, restaurants and on city streets. Over 1,000 Israelis were killed, and thousands severely injured in these attacks. (https://www.adl.org/resources/glossary-terms/the-second-intifada-2000) -
Gaza War
On 27 December 2008, Israel launched a military offensive against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The Strip had been placed under an Israeli-led siege a year earlier, subjecting the 360 square-kilometre-enclave to a land, air and sea blockade. Codenamed “Operation Cast Lead”, this offensive began at 11am on a Saturday morning, with Israeli Air Force jets firing on targets across the territory. Among the targets were the small fishing port and the main police compound in Gaza City. (mfa.gov) -
Operation Pillar of Defense
Israel launches “Operation Pillar of Defense” in response to days of rocket fire out of Hamas-ruled Gaza. The offensive 20 airstrikes resulted in the assassination of Ahmad Jabari, the military commander of Hamas. Jabari had been long on Israel's most wanted list for several deadly attacks and the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. 10 were killed and 45 wounded in Operation Pillar of Defense. (https://www.adl.org/resources/glossary-terms/operation-pillar-of-defense-gaza-november-2012) -
November 12th Airstrike
Palestinian militants bombarded Israel with dozens of rockets while Israeli warplanes struck targets throughout the Gaza Strip. Palestinian officials said at least three people, including two militants, were killed by Israeli fire and nine were wounded. An Israeli airstrike destroyed the ruling Hamas group’s TV station. In Israel, the national rescue service said at least 20 people were wounded. (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-46174912) -
Airaid of May 16, 2021
After weeks of tension in Jerusalem led to Israeli police raiding al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam, Hamas fired rockets toward the city for the first time in years, prompting Israel to retaliate with airstrikes. The fighting, the fiercest since at least 2014, saw thousands of rockets fired from Gaza and hundred of airstrikes on the Palestinian territory, with more than 200 killed in Gaza and at least 10 killed in Israel. (https://www.aljazeera.com)