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First Zionist Congress held in Basel, Switzerland, organized by Theodor Herzl, formerly launches drive for Jewish return to the Land of Israel
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Ruled by the Ottoman Turks since the early 16th Century, Arabs in Palestine become anxious to establish their own antion as the Ottoman Empire begins to weaken
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Great Britain makes two sets of promises. To Arabs, in exchange for their hlp in defeating the Ottoman Empire, the British promise independence after the war. For Jews, they promise support for a Jewish homeland.
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Arabs declare that they want part of the Ottoman lands at the end of the war, including Palestine
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If Ottomans lose the war, Arab territories should be divided between Britain and France and ruled by a mandate system.
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Great Britain, in Balfour Declaration, support creation of "national home" for Jews in Palestine.
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League of Nations establishes British Mandate over Palestine and directs Britain to encourage "close settlement of Jews upon the lnad."
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250,000 Jews, one-quarter of them refugees from Nazi Germany, arrive in Palestine
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A estimated 6,000,000 Jews are killed under the Nzai regime. Germany is defeated by Allied forces in 1945. After the war, support for Jewish homeland increases.
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UN proposes partition of Palestine into Arab states and a Jewish state. Arab leaders reject partition.
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Israel is recognized by the US. Total Jewish population is 650,000
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War begins as Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria invade Israel. Israel defeats their combined armies and enlarges its territory. Jerusalem is now split between Jordan and Israel Nearly 1 million Palestinians are left without homes after the war.
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David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, convenes Knesset. Signs armistice with neighboring Arab countries. Jerusalem divided--western half to Israel, easterh half to Jordan
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Knesset passes Law of Return, granting all Jews the right to immigrate to Israel
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More than 1 million Jewish immigrants arrive in Israel to build a new nation.
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Egypt nationalizes Suez Canal--which was run by the British--closing it to Israeli shipping. Israel invades Gaza Strip and Sinai, but withdraws under US pressure.
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Palestinian LIberatin Organization established to represent those who have been removed from the land of Palestine. Based in Jordan, it is dedicated to the destruction of Israel and the return of land to Palestinian Arabs
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Israel launches preemptive strike against Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. Israel gains control of Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and West Bank. Jerusalem reunited
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11 Israeli athletes are killed in the Olympic Village in Germany by Palestinian extremists while the world watches
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Syria and Egypt attack Israeli forces on Golan Heights and Suez Canal. After early reversals, Israel closes in on Damascus and crosses Suez Canal. Cease-fire declared and Israel later withdraws from Golan Heights and parts of the Sinai
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Arab states recognize PLO as "sole, legitimate representative" of the Palestinian people. UN grants the PLO "non-voting observer" status.
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Jimmy Carter, President Anwar Sadat and Prime Minister Menachen Begin conclude peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, First Arab country to recognize Israel as a state. Israel withdraws from the Sinai Peninsula. The PLO rejects the Accords.
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Anwar Sadat is assassinated
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Arabs and Israelis can't agree on the meaning of "self government" Arabs believe it means the creation of a Palestinian state while Israelis say it means "self-rule" under Israeli control.
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Arabic for "shaking off"--Angered by Israel's continuing occupation of West back ang Gaza, Palestinians begin an uprising, with stone-throwing youths attacking Israelis soldiers. The first suicide attack on Israeli civilians is 1989.
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Iraq invades Kuwait. The PLO sides with Iraq but other Arab nations split. Iraq fires missiles at Israel hoping to draw it into war. US-led coaltion defeats Iraq and Saddam Hussein.
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After secret negotiations in Norway, Israel turns over control of parts of the West bank and Gaza to Palestinians. Led by Yasir Arafat, Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist. In 1994, Israel and Jordan sign a peace treaty and ends their official state of war.
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Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, who signed the Oslo Accord, is assassinated by a Jewish extremist.
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Benjamin Netanyahu, an opponent of the Oslo Accords, is eleced prime minister. The peace process stalls.
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Yasir Arafat rejects a final settlement with Israel negotiated by Bill Clinton. In 2000, a second, more violent, uprising begins. Suicide bombings and Israeli crackdowns leave 4,000 Palestinians and over 1,000 Israelis dead.,
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Israel begins to construct a "separation barrier" to keep Palestinian terrorists out of Israel from the West Bank. Suicide bombings drop 90%, but the path makes it difficult on the daily lives of Palestinians.
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Israel acts to "disengage" from the Palestinians, withdrawing settlers and troops from the Gaza.
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In January, the Islamic militant group, Hamas, which the US considers a terrorsit group, wins Palestinian elections. The US and other countries cut off aid to Palestinians.
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Civil war erupts in Gaza and Hamas defeats forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, who retains power in the West Bank. In January, 2008, President Bush promotes a new peace effort, but it falls short due ot violence in the region.
