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Balfour Declaration
A statement written by the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour, the Balfour Declaration explains Britain's support for a Jewish homeland in the Middle East. This spurs Jewish immigration back to their origins of Israel. -
British Mandate-- Control of Palestine
After gaining control of land in the middle east, the British have Palestine in their possesion. Already having claimed support for a Jewish homeland there, this gives Jews a sense of security upon returning and they begin immigration in larger numbers. -
Hitler and the Nuremberg Race Laws
As Hitler rises to power, he installs anti-sematic laws in his area of power. Pogroms against Jews were apparent in most of Europe, so the Jewish people flee-- most go to the holy land. -
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Peel Commission
Britain sends a commission to Palestine in order to observe the growing struggle between the Arabs and Israeli's, and to propose changes to the inhabitants. They were the first to suggest two seperate states for Jews and Palestinians. -
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World War II and the Holocaust
The mass murders of Jews inspires world wide sympathy and support for them. This makes it easier for the Jewish to justify a home in the holy land, and many more people are willing to help them. -
Partition and War
The United Nations formally divides Palestine into seperate states for Arabs and Jews. Disgreement, mostly by Arabs, results in war between Israeli and Arab states. -
UN Resolution 194
The UN passes a resolution stating that refugees have the right to return to their home peacefull, or stay put and be accomodated. Palestinians use this as their "right to return" and move back toward their holy land and now Israeli- governed lands. -
Founding of the PLO
The Palestinian Liberation organization is created on the basis of a promise to use "material, military, and spiritual forces" to resist Jewish people in the Holy Land. -
Arab-Israeli Six Day War
Egypt sends troops to block Israeli access to the Red Sea port, and they responding by striking Egyptian air force. Jordan and Syria join the attack, launching all out war that Jews refuse to end by returning Arab land. -
The 1973 Arab-Israeli War
Egypt and Syria attack Israeli's on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Arab's OPEC denies oil to western states that support Israel, causing some European countries to switch to a more pro-Arab mindset. The UN again calls for a deal to be made, land in exchange for peace, and Israeli's are driven out of the Sinai Peninsula. -
Palestinian Politics
Palestinian Politicians present an act of peace if their will is followed, but a threat if it is not. Their wishes for an independent state force the United Nations to recognize their right to self-determination. -
Terrorist Attempt at Liberation
Terrorists associated with a Liberation of Palestine organization hijack a plane and hold all Jewish and Israeli passangers hostage, demanding that Palestinian prisoners in Israel be set free. A rescue attempt results in 53 total deaths, with all but one hostage freed. -
Israeli Invasion of Lebanon
Israel invades and occupies land in south Lebanon and the Lebanese cooperate with Israelis to resist Palestinian control. The UN, on behalf of US wishes, passes a resolution for Israelis to withdraw, and another to assign a peacekeeping squad to the area. -
Camp David Accords
Egyptian leader Sedat and Israeli Prime Minister Begin meet at Camp David to secretly negotiate and draw up a successful plan for peace between their nations. Although the same plan failed between Israel and other nations, the men received Nobel Peace Prizes for their accomplishments. Egypt was shunned by other Arab states for its "indiscretions." -
Seige of Beirut
When Israelis attack PLO organizations in Lebanon, Palestinian response forces Israelis to besiege Beirut, which pushed the U.S., France, and Italy to get involved and evacuate the PLO. Syria orders the assassination of a Beirut president in league with the Israelis, and Israeli- Aliied Christian militia men massacre at least 700 Palestinian refugees. -
Labanese Attempts at Peace
U.S. helps Lebanon to make peace agreements with Israel, but the plans are ruined by Syria, who refused to withdraw troops from Lebanon. A Christian militia armed by Israel patrolls the southern border of Lebanon. -
Intifada
Palestinians living in Israeli-occupied land revolt, some using disobedience, others using violence against the decades-old instituition. Some methods of terror, such as throwing stones at Israeli soldiers, become symbolic acts of defiance for Palestinians. -
Madrid Conference
This peace-conference between Israel, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon results in Israel-Palestine and Israel-Jordan peace agreements. -
9/11
This terrorist attack forced U.S. leaders to rethink its involvment in the middle-east, and they drew further away from Palestinians. Israelis, however, remained on good U.S. terms and provided intel and support for the newly declared "War on Terror." -
Summer War
Capture of Israeli soldiers prompt Israel to invade Gaza and Lebanon, starting a month-long war. This one is ended when the UN deploys the Lebanese army in the south and sends more peacekeepers to the conflict. -
Annapolis Conference
U.S. hosts a conference involving worldleaders along with Israel and Palestine plus supporting countries. The conference promotes peace between the two nations, who decide that any agreements depend upon confidence built by prior peace attempts still in the works.
