Israel/Palestine Timeline

Late 1880’s People around the world increase the fight for Jewish homeland in the region where the ancient Hebrews lived …..this is called Zionism

Britain gains control of Palestine. 1917 to 1930 In 1917, the Ottoman Empire is defeated in WW1 and Britain gains control of Palestine.

1935 to 1947 More and more European Jews come to Palestine to escape anti Jewish activities and killings by the Nazis during WWII (Holocaust) 1947, the newly formed United Nations (UN) made a plan to partition Palestine into 2 states. An Arab and a Jewish state with Jerusalem as an international city.

1948 Israel (Jewish) is declared an independent state The next day Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia (Arab Nations) attack the new state When it was all over, Israel had expanded its’ territory by almost 1/3.

1964 Palestinian (Arabs) groups join together and form the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) to represent displaced Palestinians and demand a Palestinian homeland. They elect Yasir Arafat as its chairman of PLO.

1967 After 6 days of fighting, the Six Day War ends with Israel (Jews) taking the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza strip from Egypt, the Golan Heights from Syria and territory on the West Bank of the Jordan River. 1.5 million Arabs find themselves living under Israeli control.

1970 PLO (Arab) increases its terrorist activities including civilian raids and airplane hijackings against Israel and Western countries that support Israel. Jordanian troops force the Palestinian organization out of the country forcing them to relocate to Lebanon

1973 With support of Arab states, Egypt and Syria attack Israel during the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.

1979 Anwar Sadat (Egypt) and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin meet with U.S. President Jimmy Carter and sign a peace treaty at Camp David in Maryland. Sadat Carter Menachem This agreement is known as the Camp David Accords In the agreement, Israel has the right to exist and Israel promises to return the Sinai Peninsula.

Mid 1980’s Hezbollah and Hamas, two important Arab groups were founded Hezbollah – from Lebanon Hamas –from West Bank and the Gaza Strip Both groups supported by Syria and Iran and are made up of Muslims Both groups have led attacks on Israel

Israel withdraws from the Sinai Peninsula. 1982 Israel withdraws from the Sinai Peninsula.

1987 Intifada (uprising) happens when Israel sends its army troops to stop the protest of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and Jerusalem.

1991 Peace talks begin among Israel (Jews) and several Arab nations. 1992 Israel (Jews) and the PLO meet in secret for nine months near Oslo, Norway. 1993 This agreement is called the Oslo agreement Israeli (Jews) Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the PLO (Arab) leader Yasser Arafat sign a peace treaty at the White House in Washington, D.C. Bill Clinton is President of the United States.

1995 Rabin (Israel) and Arafat (PLO) sign an agreement that gives Palestinians even more self-government powers in the West Bank At a peace rally in Israel, Rabin (Israel) is assassinated by an Israeli man who believes that Jews should own and control the West Bank. Rabin is replaced by Shimon Peres

Israel begins building a controversial wall around the West Bank. 2002 Israel begins building a controversial wall around the West Bank.

2004 Yasser Arafat died and was succeeded by Mahmoud Abbas. President Abbas convinced Hamas to stop the attacks on Israelis.

2005 Israel pulled out the troops that took over the Gaza Strip. Egypt now controls Gaza’s southern border.

2007 Islamist militant group Hamas (Palestinian) took over the Gaza Strip splitting Gaza from the West Bank.