Middle East 20th Century

By Zeinaaburmeileh

  • 1917

    1917
    Under the Balfour Declaration, the British Cabinet promises to facilitate the creation of a Jewish "national home" in Palestine while protecting the civil and religious rights of the Palestinians.

  • 1918

    Middle east geographically during 20th century World War I ends. Britain and France emerge victorious, but the Arab dream of independence is still not coming true as the colonization of Arab lands continues.

  • 1922

    1922
    Mustapha Kemal (Ataturk), a former Young Turk and hero of the Ottoman army, proclaims Turkey a republic.

  • 1924

    1924
    The Wafd party wins overwhelmingly in Egypt’s first elections under the British-sponsored monarchy.

  • 1926

    1926
    Abdul Aziz ibn Saud conquers Mecca and Medina. The Arabian kingdoms of Najd and Hijaz are unified into modern Saudi Arabia. Abdul Aziz's victories across the Arabian Peninsula end the rule of the Hashemite family; al-Sharif Hussein is the last Hashemite to rule in Hijaz.

  • 1936

    1936
    Jewish immigration to Palestine increases rasing the Jewish population of the region from approximately 8% to around 30%. As a result, many Palestinian Arabs are dispossessed of their land to make room for the newcomers. Against this background, the Arabs launch a spontaneous rebellion against British rule and the increasing Zionist presence in Palestine. The revolt will go on for three years until the British authorities finally succeed in crushing it and dispersing the Palestinian leadership

  • 1939

    1939
    "World War II begins. Britain seeks to ensure the cooperation of the Arab states in the conflict by issuing the White Paper of 1939, which disavows Britain’s intention of creating a Jewish State in Palestine. It also imposes temporary limits on Jewish migration to Palestine."

  • 1947

    1947
    Zionist leaders declare war on the British in Palestine in order to get the immigration restrictions of the 1939 White Paper cancelled.

  • 1948

    1948
    Pan-Arabism was the belief that all of the Arab nations should unite under one belief. This idea sparked around the time when Israel obtained its independence when the Arab nations attacked trying to force the Jews out of the Holy Land.

  • 1967

    The six day war"The Six-Day War was a conflict between Israel and its neighboring Arab countries which started with a surprise attack by Israel on Egypt. The Israels wanted to gain more land including the Sinai Peninsula, and the West Bank. Israel had once again defeated the Arab nations. Although the Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt, this was a rewarding victory for Israel."