Israel TimelineIsrael Timeline

Maureen L.Maureen L.

Kingdom of IsraelKingdom of Israel► 930 BC to 720 BC930 BC to 720 BC► The Kingdom of Israel is The Kingdom of Israel is

the earliest known the earliest known civilization that civilization that inhabited the Israel inhabited the Israel region. A successor region. A successor state of the United state of the United Monarchy, it existed Monarchy, it existed from roughly 930 BC to from roughly 930 BC to 720 BC. It’s population 720 BC. It’s population was predominantly was predominantly Jewish and was also Jewish and was also known as the Northern known as the Northern Kingdom. The kingdom Kingdom. The kingdom was destructed by the was destructed by the Assyrian Empire.Assyrian Empire.An early map of Israel

Zionism and Arab Zionism and Arab NationalismNationalism

► Late 19Late 19thth century century► Zionism and Arab Zionism and Arab

nationalism are the two root nationalism are the two root causes of the Israeli-causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Zionism Palestinian conflict. Zionism is the movement by Jewish is the movement by Jewish people to reestablish a people to reestablish a Jewish homeland in Jewish homeland in Palestine. This grew popular Palestine. This grew popular in the late 19in the late 19thth century due century due to Russian and European to Russian and European anti-semitism. Arab anti-semitism. Arab nationalism started nationalism started becoming more prominent becoming more prominent due to the new Zionist due to the new Zionist movement.movement.

Balfour DeclarationBalfour Declaration► November 2, 1917November 2, 1917► The Balfour Declaration was The Balfour Declaration was

basically a promise made by basically a promise made by the British to the Jewish people the British to the Jewish people that they would be able to that they would be able to establish a homeland in establish a homeland in Palestine. However, the British Palestine. However, the British had already promised that they had already promised that they would help the Arabs if they would help the Arabs if they helped the British fight in World helped the British fight in World War I. The Declaration was War I. The Declaration was written by Arthur James balfour written by Arthur James balfour (the British Foreign Secretary) (the British Foreign Secretary) to Lord Rothschild (the leader to Lord Rothschild (the leader of Jewish people in Britain). of Jewish people in Britain). This became an important arm This became an important arm of the movement to create a of the movement to create a jewish state in Palestine.jewish state in Palestine.

Jewish Survivors of WWIIJewish Survivors of WWII► 19471947► After WWII, many Jewish After WWII, many Jewish

Europeans were displaced Europeans were displaced after being put through after being put through concentration camps and concentration camps and thrown out of their homes. thrown out of their homes. To aid them, the British To aid them, the British government sent thousands government sent thousands of Palestine-bound Jewish of Palestine-bound Jewish survivors of the camps survivors of the camps overseas. They were turned overseas. They were turned away from the land because away from the land because the Palestinian government the Palestinian government felt they needed to keep a felt they needed to keep a demographic balance of demographic balance of Arabs and Jews. In the end, Arabs and Jews. In the end, they were sent back to post-they were sent back to post-war Germany.war Germany.

Jewish survivors of Nazi concentration camps

UN Partition PlanUN Partition Plan► November 29, 1947November 29, 1947► After much deliberation and After much deliberation and

not knowing what to do, the not knowing what to do, the UN finally voted to create 2 UN finally voted to create 2 states within the land. They states within the land. They voted with a 2/3 majority and voted with a 2/3 majority and created two separate states created two separate states for Jewish and Arab people. for Jewish and Arab people. The Jews’ land was about The Jews’ land was about 75% desert, yet they still 75% desert, yet they still accepted it. The Arabs were accepted it. The Arabs were still upset and did not want still upset and did not want to recognize any Jewish to recognize any Jewish entity on Palestinian land. entity on Palestinian land. Because of this, they Because of this, they rejected this plan. Despite rejected this plan. Despite their rejection, this is how their rejection, this is how the world views the land as the world views the land as of right now.of right now.

1948 War1948 War

► 19481948► This war is known to This war is known to

Israelis as “The War of Israelis as “The War of Independence,” and to Independence,” and to Arabs as “The Arabs as “The Catastrophe.” The war Catastrophe.” The war was started by the was started by the Arabs in response to Arabs in response to the UN partition plan. It the UN partition plan. It led to the termination led to the termination of the British Mandate of the British Mandate of Palestine. And lastly, of Palestine. And lastly, it ended with the it ended with the independence of Israel independence of Israel on May 14, 1948.on May 14, 1948.

A map of the Sinai Desert, where most of the fighting during this war took place.

Suez CrisisSuez Crisis

► July 26, 1956 – October July 26, 1956 – October 19561956

► This crisis erupted after the This crisis erupted after the U.S. and Britain decided to U.S. and Britain decided to withdraw from an withdraw from an agreement in which they agreement in which they said they would aid Egypt in said they would aid Egypt in the building of the Aswam the building of the Aswam Dam. The Western powers Dam. The Western powers didn’t want to aid them didn’t want to aid them because of their ties to the because of their ties to the communist east. This was communist east. This was an attack on Egypt by three an attack on Egypt by three major powers – Israel, major powers – Israel, Britain, and France.Britain, and France.

Formation of the PLOFormation of the PLO► June 2, 1964June 2, 1964► The Palestinian The Palestinian

Liberation Organization Liberation Organization was founded as an was founded as an opposition party to the opposition party to the Israelis in 1964. It was Israelis in 1964. It was founded by 422 founded by 422 Palestinian national Palestinian national figures in a meeting in figures in a meeting in Jerusalem. Their two Jerusalem. Their two main goals were to main goals were to prohibit the “existence prohibit the “existence and activity” of zionism and activity” of zionism and liberate Palestine and liberate Palestine through an armed through an armed struggle.struggle.

6-Day War6-Day War► 19671967► Known as the “6-Day War” to Known as the “6-Day War” to

Israelis, and the “Arab-Israeli Israelis, and the “Arab-Israeli War” to Arabs, this was a battle War” to Arabs, this was a battle between Israel, Egypt, Jordan, between Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. In May 1967, the and Syria. In May 1967, the Egyptian President Nasser, got Egyptian President Nasser, got rid of the UN Emergency Force rid of the UN Emergency Force on the Sinai Peninsula. After on the Sinai Peninsula. After this, Egypt became increasingly this, Egypt became increasingly aggressive to Israel by putting aggressive to Israel by putting soldiers on their borders and soldiers on their borders and gaining weapons. Israel gaining weapons. Israel eventually launched the first eventually launched the first attack and war ensued. The attack and war ensued. The result was yet another result was yet another displacement of Israelis and displacement of Israelis and Arabs.Arabs.

A Middle-Eastern political cartoon of the 6-Day War

Resolution 242Resolution 242► November 22, 1967November 22, 1967► Resolution 242 was drafted Resolution 242 was drafted

by British ambassador Lord by British ambassador Lord Caradon. There were two Caradon. There were two main points in the resolution main points in the resolution – the first being that Israelis – the first being that Israelis needed to withdraw troops needed to withdraw troops from all occupied territories. from all occupied territories. Secondly, there needed to Secondly, there needed to be a “termination of all be a “termination of all claims or states of claims or states of belligerency.” All that were belligerency.” All that were involved agreed in signing involved agreed in signing except for Syria, who except for Syria, who accepted the resolution in a accepted the resolution in a delayed manner.delayed manner.

New lines drawn after 242

Yom Kippur WarYom Kippur War► October 1973October 1973► The Yom Kippur war was an The Yom Kippur war was an

attack on Israel by a coalition attack on Israel by a coalition of Arab states; namely Egypt of Arab states; namely Egypt and Syria. These two nations and Syria. These two nations launched a surprise attack launched a surprise attack on the Jewish religious on the Jewish religious holiday of Yom Kippur. Due holiday of Yom Kippur. Due to being taken off-guard, the to being taken off-guard, the coalition of Arab states was coalition of Arab states was winning after several battles winning after several battles – this boosted their morale. – this boosted their morale. Their success led to a sense Their success led to a sense of exoneration that helped in of exoneration that helped in the resolution of the War – the resolution of the War – the Camp David Accords.the Camp David Accords.

Camp David AccordsCamp David Accords► September 17, 1978September 17, 1978► Also known as the Also known as the

“Framework for peace in the “Framework for peace in the Middle East,” the Camp Middle East,” the Camp David Accords were secret David Accords were secret negotiations made in Camp negotiations made in Camp David, Maryland. They were David, Maryland. They were signed by the Egyptian signed by the Egyptian President and Israeli Prime President and Israeli Prime Minister. There were two Minister. There were two main conditions – Israel main conditions – Israel agreed to return the Sinai to agreed to return the Sinai to Egypt (which happened one Egypt (which happened one year later). And Both agreed year later). And Both agreed to establish autonomy in the to establish autonomy in the West Bank and the Gaza West Bank and the Gaza Strip (this did not happen Strip (this did not happen until the 90s). until the 90s).

Egyptian President: Anwar Al-Sadat, American President: Jimmy Carter,

Israeli Prime Minister: Kiryat Menachem signing the Accords in

Washington, DC

Osirak BombingOsirak Bombing

► June 7, 1981June 7, 1981► This project, “Osirak,” This project, “Osirak,”

was originally an Iraqi was originally an Iraqi nuclear materials nuclear materials testing reactor. testing reactor. However, once Saddam However, once Saddam Hussein came to power, Hussein came to power, some questioned what it some questioned what it was being used for. was being used for. Israel bombed it in 1981 Israel bombed it in 1981 on suspicion that on suspicion that Hussein was using it to Hussein was using it to create nuclear weapons.create nuclear weapons.

Damage done by Israeli bombing

PLO and Israeli RecognitionPLO and Israeli Recognition► 19931993► After a series of letters After a series of letters

and much negotiating, and much negotiating, Israelis and Arabs Israelis and Arabs moved one step closer moved one step closer towards peace. Israel towards peace. Israel agreed to accept and agreed to accept and recognize the PLO recognize the PLO (Palestinian Liberation (Palestinian Liberation Organization) as Organization) as Palestinian Palestinian Representation. In Representation. In return, Yasser Arafat, return, Yasser Arafat, leader of the PLO leader of the PLO agreed to recognize the agreed to recognize the state of Israel.state of Israel.

Yasser Arafat

2000 Camp David Summit2000 Camp David Summit

► July 2000July 2000► A meeting between U.S. A meeting between U.S.

President, Bill Clinton, Israeli President, Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, and Chairman of the PLO, and Chairman of the PLO, Yasser Arafat. Yet another Yasser Arafat. Yet another peace talk went on at Camp peace talk went on at Camp David, however this one David, however this one was less successful than the was less successful than the previous. The three leaders previous. The three leaders met to try to establish a met to try to establish a “final status settlement” in “final status settlement” in the Middle East. No the Middle East. No agreement was met and the agreement was met and the final solution is still up in the final solution is still up in the air as of today.air as of today.

Ehud Barak, Bill Clinton, Yasser Arafat

Works ConsultedWorks Consulted► "Palestine Liberation Organization," Microsoft® Encarta® "Palestine Liberation Organization," Microsoft® Encarta®

Online Encyclopedia 2008Online Encyclopedia 2008http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation. http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation. <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566844/Palestine_Li<http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566844/Palestine_Liberation_Organization.html#p16>beration_Organization.html#p16>

► ““Suez Crisis.” Military. 1997. Global Security.org 2 February Suez Crisis.” Military. 1997. Global Security.org 2 February 2009. <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/suez.htm>2009. <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/suez.htm>

► ““Israel-PLO Recognition - Exchange of Letters between PM Israel-PLO Recognition - Exchange of Letters between PM Rabin and Chairman Arafat - Sept 9- 1993” 9 Sep 1993 Israel Rabin and Chairman Arafat - Sept 9- 1993” 9 Sep 1993 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2 February 2009. < 9 Sep 1993> Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2 February 2009. < 9 Sep 1993>

► "Camp David accords." "Camp David accords." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth EditionEdition. 2008. . 2008. Encyclopedia.com.Encyclopedia.com. 2 Feb. 2009 2 Feb. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

► "Kingdom of Israel," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia "Kingdom of Israel," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 20082008http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation. http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation. <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566161/kingdom_of<http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566161/kingdom_of_israel.html>_israel.html>