Events of the Middle East 1900 - Present Day By kamclane2013 Mar 15, 1917 Britain gives support to the Zionist movement by the Balfour Declaration Mar 8, 1923 Britain receives the League of Nations mandate over Palestine Mar 8, 1938 Over 500,000 Jews migrate to Palestine Mar 8, 1939 Britain severely limits Jewish immigration to Palestine Mar 8, 1945 The Arab League is founded to unify Arab policy on world issues Mar 8, 1947 Britain turns the Palestine problem over to the UN General Assembly Mar 8, 1948 Israel proclaims its independence Mar 8, 1949 Arab states accept, as temporary, the armistice agreements arranged by UN mediator Ralph Bunche Mar 8, 1956 Sinai Campaign - Israel invades Egypt to wipe out guerrilla bases and end the Aqaba blockade Mar 8, 1960 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) founded Mar 8, 1960 Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) founded Mar 12, 1967 Beginning of Arab-Israeli war Mar 12, 1970 Egyptian president Nasser dies. Position was assumed by Anwar al-Sadat Mar 12, 1972 Sadat orders the 20,000 Soviet military personnel to leave Egypt Mar 12, 1972 Arab extremists employ Japanese terrorists to massacre innocent civilians at the Tel Aviv airport Mar 12, 1973 Israel "wins" the war militarily, but "looses" the war in other ways, such as loosing a major part of its population Dec 15, 1973 Israel, Egypt, and Jordan - but not Syria - send delegates to a UN-backed peace conference in Geniva, Switzerland Mar 8, 1974 (PLO) declared the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" by the Arab Nations Mar 9, 1974 Arab nations secure a UN General Assembly invitation for the (PLO) Mar 12, 1975 Leftist Palestinian gurrillas take part in Lebanon's civil war Mar 12, 1975 Beginning of Lebanon's Civil War Mar 12, 1976 Syria sends 15,000 troops into Lebanon Mar 15, 1977 Egyptian President Sadat solicits an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin; Sadat visits Israel Mar 12, 1978 a PLO squad lands on the Israeli coast and kills 30 civilians Mar 15, 1978 The Camp David (Maryland) Conference takes place Mar 15, 1979 The Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty is formed Mar 15, 1979 The Shah (Iran ruler) faces an uncontrollable opposition by workers protesting low wages and inflation Mar 15, 1979 President Carter allows the Shah to enter the United States for surgery and treatment of cancer Mar 15, 1980 The Syrian-Soviet Treaty is formed Mar 15, 1980 Shah leaves the US and the US leaders break diplomatic relations with Iran Mar 15, 1980 Start of Iran-Iraq war Period: Mar 15, 1980 to Mar 15, 1988 Iran-Iraq War Apr 15, 1980 President Carter orders a military mission to rescue hostages in Iran, but the attempt fails when aircrafts malfunction and cause 8 people to die Mar 12, 1981 War begins again in Lebanon Mar 13, 1981 Israeli armed forces bomb the Lebanese capital, Beirut Mar 15, 1981 Israeli warplanes bomb and destroy an Iraqi nuclear reactor being built with French aid Mar 15, 1981 Egyptian President Sadat is assassinated; position taken over by vice-president Hosni Mubarak Mar 15, 1981 United States sells $8.5 Billion of Military equipment, including Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) planes to Saudi Arabia Mar 15, 1981 Israel Annexes Golan Heights Mar 12, 1982 Israel invades Lebanon and forces most PLO guerrillas to leave Mar 12, 1983 Syria helps drive out the rest of the PLO guerrillas in Lebanon Mar 12, 1983 Suicide bombers drive bomb trucks into US and French military compounds killing 241 Marines and 58 French soldiers Mar 12, 1984 US President Regan withdraws US forces from Lebanon Mar 12, 1985 Israel withdraws most of its forces from Lebanon Mar 15, 1987 Palestinians start uprising against Israel called the Intifadah Mar 12, 1988 Lebanese President Amin Gemayel's term expires Mar 12, 1988 Arafat and the Palestine National Council met in Algiers to proclaim the formation of an independent "state of Palestine" Mar 15, 1988 Yasir Arafat proposes a peace plan calling for Israel and Palestine Mar 12, 1989 Lebanese parliament approves new constitution designed to increase the power of Lebanon's Muslim majority and end the civil war Mar 15, 1990 Syrian troops assault the Lebanese presidental palace to remove Christian general Michel Aoun. Mar 15, 1991 Beginning of Middle East peace talks held by the United States and Soviet Union Jun 15, 1992 Israeli voters turn towards a more flexible Labor Party Mar 15, 1993 Israel and the PLO open formal diplomatic talks Mar 15, 1993 Israel and the PLO open formal diplomatic talks Sep 15, 1993 Israel and the PLO sign an accord of peace in Washington D.C. Mar 15, 1995 Israel and the PLO sign an accord in which they agree that Israeli withdraw from Arab territories