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Zionist Movement
The Zionist movement was founded by secular Jews and spearheaded by Theodore Herzlas a response to the anti-Semitism in Europe that was especially evidenced by the Dreyfus Affair. These people wished for a Jewish state to be re-established in Palestine in order for the Jews to have their national identity. However, this dream was not realized until after World War II, when Israel was sanctioned a country by the United Nations. -
Creation of Israel
The United Nations sanctioned the creation of Israel in Palestine, partially as a response to the slaughter of the Jews in World War II and also to allow Jews to emigrate from Europe and start over after losing their property in the war. -
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The armies of Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon, and Iraq attacked the new state of Israel. After a year of bloody battle, Jordan annexed the West Bank and East Jerusalem and Egypt annexed the Gaza Strip. These informal boundaries became known as the Green Line. More than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled from the area as a result of the fighting, starting a long history of Palestinian unrest. -
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Israeli-Egyptian Conflicts
In 1950 Egypt closed the Suez Canal to Israeli shipping, sparking armed raids between the Israelis and Palestinian Egyptians along the borders. In 1956 Israel joined Great Britain and France in attempting to regain control of the Suez Canal. Israel took control of the Sinai Peninsula but was forced to withdraw by the United Nations' guarantee of Israeli shipping rights in the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. -
Six-Day War
Israel launched an attack against Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq after mounting tensions and partial blockades made peace impossible. As a result, Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. The Green Line became the administrative boundary for Israel and its occupied territories, which then led to internal resistance led by the conquered peoples. -
The Munich Massacre of the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics became a disaster when a group of Palestinian guerillas, belonging to the Black September, a terrorist organization branching off from the Palestinian Liberation Organization, took Israeli Olympians hostage. A standoff occurred, allowing the group to be moved to an airport. There the West German rescue attempt failed, resulting in the death of all the Israeli hostages. -
Yom Kippur War
As the Israeli Jews were observing the sacred holiday Yom Kippur, Egypt and Syria launched a secret attack. Israel remained victorious because of their quick response and the leadership of Yitzhak Rabin, but inevitably faced heavy losses, leading to more civil unrest and the resignation of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. -
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat. They recognized the rights and self-autonomy of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They also outlined terms for peace that would later be addressed. Israel withdrew its forces from the Sinai Peninsula and the Egyptian borders, with Egypt also limiting its forces. -
Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty
Signed once again by Begin and Sadat, the main terms of the treaty were the "official" end of the state of war between Israel and Egypt, the normalization of relations, and demilitarization of the Sinai Peninsula. Israeli ships were granted free passage through the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba wre declared international waterways. Overall, Egypt became the first Arab state to officially recognize the state of Israel. -
Yitzhak Rabin and the Oslo Accords
Yitzhak Rabin was elected Israeli Prime Minister on the platform that he would make peace with Israel's neighbors. After his election, representatives from Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) signed the Oslo Accords, giving the Palestinian National Authority the right to govern areas of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In return, the PLO officially recognized the state of Israel and pledged an end to terrorism. -
Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace
Jordan became the second Arab country to normalize relations with Israel. -
Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
Unfortunately, Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli Jew while leaving a peace rally. The reason for this was because the Jew opposed the Oslo Accords. This was devastating to the Israeli people because he had been a powerful military leader, enforcing Israeli dominance, but had made great strides in peace with Israel's Arab enemies. -
Camp David Summit
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak started his term by withdrawing from Southern Lebanon and meeting with the Palestinian representative Yasser Arafat and US President Bill Clinton to conduct negotiations. During this meeting Barak proposed the establishment of a Palestinian state. Unfortunately, Arafat rejected it and tensions once again rose, leading to more armed conflict. -
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Sharon's term was marked by his proposal to withdraw forces from the Gaza Strip and build the Israeli West Bank barrier. -
Second Lebanon War
This was a conflict fought between the Israeli military and the Hezbollah in Lebanon, northern Israel, and the Golan Heights. It began with a Hezbollah attack on Israel's northern border and abduction and murder of multiple Israeli soldiers. A month later, the United Nations forced a ceasefire and later Israel lifted its naval blockade of Lebanon. -
Gaza War
The conflict arose when Israel wanted to end rocket fire into Israel and the import of arms into the Gaza strip while Palestinian resistance groups continued firing rockets because of the Israeli military response. Both parties were accused for potential crimes against humanity for possibly targeting civilians in their attacks.
