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Balfour Declaration
A classified statement of policy by the British government stating that they will "view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people". At the end of World War I, the British were installed as a mandatory power over Palestine and begin to facilitate Jewish immigration and property acquisition. -
Partition of 1947
The United Nations Special Commission on Palestine recommends that Palestine be divided into an Arab state and a Jewish state. The commission called for Jerusalem to be put under international administration. The UN General Assembly adopted this plan on Nov. 29, 1947. -
Formal Declaration of State
Israel proclaims independence ending almost three decades of British administration. -
Arab-Israeli War of 1948
20,000 Arabs (mostly from Jordan and Iraq) launch an attack on 65,000 Israeli's in a dispute over Palestine. Egypt retains control of Gaza. Causes Palestinian flight into Gaza. -
Suez War
Frustrated by Egypt's nationalization of its canal (Suez) and continued military build-up; Britain, France and Israel launch an attack from southern Gaza. Gaza is returned to the Palestinians during the following year. -
Six-Day War
Israel engages in armed conflict with the Arab nations of Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Hostilities began on June 5 with a massive preemptive strike by Israel that crippled the Arab's air capacity. Israeli forces then quickly moved to occupy the Gaza Strip and push into the Sinai. By the end of the offensive, Israel controls both Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula -
Israel returns the West Bank and Gaza
The unilateral withdrawal plan was a proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, adopted by the government on June 6, 2004 and enacted in August 2005, to evict all Israelis from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the northern West Bank. Those Israeli citizens that refused to accept government compensation packages and voluntarily vacate their homes prior to the August 15, 2005 deadline, were evicted by Israeli security forces over a period of several days. -
Hamas Wins General Election
In January 2006, Hamas (defined as a terrorist network by the UN) won a surprise victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, taking 76 of the 132 seats in the chamber, while the previous ruling Fatah party took 43. -
Cease-fire Agreement
Israel agrees to a full-scale withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip after a 23-day offensive. Over 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israeli's died during the conflict
