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War for Israeli Independence
The United Nations decides to partition Palestine into an Arab state and a Jewish state. Increase in violence leads to the first Arab-Israeli war in early 1948. Jewish forces hold their ground and declare Israeli statehood on May 14, 1948. -
Suez Crisis
Israeli leadership grows increasingly weary of cross-border attacks from the Egyptian-controlled Gaza Strip as well as Egypt's attempts to block Israeli shipping in the Suez Canal and Gulf of Aqaba. -
Six-Day War Starts
Israel plans strikes June 5 against Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq while moving troops into the Sinai Peninsula and the canal region. Jordan launches an offensive in Jerusalem on June 5. -
Six-Day War Ends
Israeli defenses retaliate and capture all of East Jerusalem and the West Bank within three days.The victory provides Israel with buffer zones in Sinai, Gaza, East Jerusalem, West Bank and Golan Heights, between the region and its Arab neighbors. -
Yom Kippur War Starts
Arab nations warn Israel that they will not accept Israeli occupation of lands lost in 1967. After Egypt's Nasser was succeeded by Anwar Sadat, he prepares his country for war, including a contract with the Soviets for more weaponry. Sadat allies himself with President Hafez Assad of Syria, and attacks Israel on Oct. 6, 1973, on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. -
Yom Kippur War Ends
Israel fights back and gains back most of the ground lost in the initial attack. Fighting continues for 18 days, when the war ends again under U.N. authority, later agreements give Egypt control of some land along the Suez Canal and Syria some control around the Golan Heights. -
Camp David Accords
Egyptian and Israeli leaders meet at Camp David with President Carter in 1978 to discuss a treaty in which Egypt would regain full control of the Sinai Peninsula. -
Israeli Invasion of Lebanon Starts
The treaty with Egypt leads to a "cold" peace, but Israel focuses on the Palestinian refugees living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Palestine Liberation Organization attacks the Lebanon borders and adds to the tensions. In 1982, Israel invades Lebanon, and Israeli troops reach Beirut, cornering the PLO and Syrian fighters. -
Invasion of Lebanon Ends
The U.S. intervenes, and a force of U.S. and Western European troops help with the PLO and Syrian evacuation. Months later Israel retakes Beirut, and hundreds of Palestinian guerrillas are killed, the war ends in May 1983, and Israel gradually withdraws its troops. -
First Palestinian Intifada, Hamas, and Hezbollah
The intifada of Palestinians occurred in the occupied territories of West Bank and Gaza; Hezbollah, a militia aimed at ending Israel's control of southern Lebanon; and Hamas, an ultra-religious group that seeks to liberate Palestine according to the laws of Islam. Israel responds by closing Palestinian schools and businesses as well as access to Israel. Within the first year of the uprising, about 300 Palestinians and 50 Israelis are killed. -
Palestine's Declaration of Independence
Yasser Arafat sought to be the sole leader of the Palestinian people, Arafat declared Palestinian statehood in November 1988 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Many nations, including the Soviet Union and Egypt, responded with recognition of the Palestinian government, with Arafat as its leader. The U.S. refuses to recognize statehood. -
Intifada, Hamas, and Hezbollah Ends
The movement lasted till 1993 and although it didn’t bring freedom for Palestinians, it brought them the attention of international community. When the movement was broadcasted around the world, major global powers realized the intensity of the situation and condemned the attacks by Israeli forces. -
Oslo Accords
Failed peace talks in Madrid in 1991 provided the framework for talks in Oslo, Norway, in 1993. Both sides agreed to a Declaration of Principles, which was signed in Washington on Sept. 13, 1993. The accords provided for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank -
Wye Accords
In 1998, President Clinton hosts Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in talks at Wye River, Maryland. The summit ended with a land-for-security deal on Oct. 23, 1998. Arafat agreed to crack down on terrorism, and Israel agreed to withdraw from a percentage of occupied land. Palestinians agreed to withdraw elements of its charter that were hostile to Israel, and both sides agreed to a third phase of negotiations. -
Camp David Summit July 11-24
Clinton begins a last-minute peace effort by hosting Arafat and Barak at Camp David. The summit lasts two weeks, but persistent issues, such as the status of Jerusalem and the relocation of Jewish settlers and Palestinian refugees, block an agreement -
Palestine Uprising
Palestinians remained frustrated ar the lack of a final peace treaty. As tensions increased, Israel's Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon, a hard-line conservative, visited a disputed holy site in Jerusalem on Sept. 28, 2000, sparking demonstrations. Another uprising is launched, followed by months of violence. Hamas launches several suicide bombing attacks, including one at a Tel Aviv disco that kills 23 people.
