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Independence for Israel
On May 14, 1948, the British left Palestine which declared Israel's independence and the birth of the democratic State of Israel. The very next day, armies from the Arab countries invaded Israel, launching war. -
Six Day War
War erupted again in 1967 after Egypt demanded that the UN remove it troops from Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula. Israel then decided to strike first against Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, destroying most of their airplanes on the ground. The six-day war ended with the Israeli army occupying Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, Syria's Golan Heights, and Jordan's West Bank. -
Yom Kippur War
Determined to win their territory back, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack against Israel in 1973, starting the Yom Kippur War. Israeli government was not fully prepared for the attack and needed military support from the United States. The attacks ended in a cease-fire imposed by the influence of the super-powers. -
Peace Agreement
In 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat made a momentous declaration: Egypt wanted peace with Israel. To help facilitate this historic peace, U.S. President Jimmy Carter invited Sadat and Israel Prime Minister Menachem Begin to a retreat in Maryland known as Camp David. There they reached an agreement and were later ready to sign a peace treaty on the following: Egypt became the first Arab country to recognize Israel and Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula. -
Intifada of 1987
In 1987 Palestinian resentment of Israeli occupation boiled over into a rebellion called intifada. During the intifada, Palestinian youths battled Israeli troops in widespread street violence. Isreal responded with strong military and police resistance (which made it worse), and fighting continued until the early 1990's and into 2000 when a second intifada took place.
