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End of British mandate
Around 1945, following the end of world war two, the League of nations gave Britain the mandate for Palestine along with the pre-requisite of preparing the area for the creation of a Jewish homeland. In 1947 Britain announced it was giving up the mandate of Palestine and forwarded the matter to the United Nations, who proposed the division of Palestine into a Jewish state as well as an Arab state. -
Six day war at the Sinai Peninsula
In 1967, Egypt demanded that the United Nations remove their forces from Gaza as well as the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt began moving Egyptian troops into the Sinai Peninsula and began to close off the Gulf of Aqaba which was Israelis access point to the Red Sea. Israel, taking it as an immediate threat, reacted very violently, launching massive air strikes on many Egyptian air bases, followed by Israel ground forces rapidly advancing, in an attack shockingly similar to German Blitzkrieg. -
Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur war was a surprise attack launched by Egypt and Syria in order to take back the land lost in the Six Day war. Due to the heavy US support of Israel, Egypt was not able to gain any land and after countless lives were lost, both sides agreed upon a cease fire. -
Egypt declares peace with Israel
Until the late 1970s, no Arab nation had recognized Israel's right to exist. Then, in 1977 Egyptian president Anwar Sadat made a momentous declaration: Egypt wanted peace with Israel. To help 'facilitate' this historic peace, US president Jimmy Carter invited Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin to Camp David, the presidential retreat to Maryland. There, in 1978, Sadat and Begin reached an agreement known as the Camp David Accords. Egypt recognized Israel. -
Palestinian Liberation Organization attacks Israel
Palestinian nationalism was strong, and in 1964 the Palestine Liberation Organization formed with a pledge to destroy Israel and replace it with a Palestinian state. After Yasser Arafat became leader in 1969, the PLO launched a campaign of guerrilla attacks against Israel, first from Jordan and later from Lebanon. In an effort to stop the PLO attacks, Israel invaded Lebanon in 1978 and again in 1982.
