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The birth of Zionism
Theodor Herzl publishes the Zionist ideology, calling for a Jewish state in the sacred homeland of the Jewish people, Palestine. The Zionist ideology becomes popular among secular Jews living in Europe, leading the rise of the Zionist Congress. -
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The First World War
The First World War was a conflict between the Triple Entente of Britain, France and Russia along with its allies against the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire. It was the First World War that resulted in the Ottoman Empire losing Palestine to the British. -
McMahon Hussein Correspondence
Sir Henry McMahon of Britain makes a promise to Sharif and Emir of Mecca, Hussein ibn Ali al Hashimi. This promise is to allow Arab rulers to govern the Arab lands if the Sharif leads an Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire, Britain's enemy in the First World War. -
Sikes-Picot Agreement
The British and French secretly draw up plans to divide the Middle East when the region is taken from the Ottoman Empire. The French are Allocated modern-day Syria and Lebanon, the British are allocated modern-day Iraq, Palestine, Israel, and Jordan. This plan gives the British the opportunity to help establish a Jewish state in Palestine. -
Balfour Declaration
This was a declaration from Arthur Balfour, the British Prime Minister to Lord Rothschild stating the British government's support for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. This directly contradicted the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence of 1915, in which the Sharif of Mecca was promised a self-governing united Arab kingdom in exchange for leading the Arabs into a revolt against the Ottoman empire. -
The Ottoman Empire Capitulates
The Ottoman Empire is defeated in late 1918. The British take control of Palestine, later leading to the creation of the British Mandate of Palestine. Both the Balfour Declaration and McMahon Hussein Correspondence have not been fulfilled. -
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The Second World War
War again between the allied powers and Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan occurred mainly because of the mass extermination of Jewish people of Europe by the Nazi government of Germany, led by Adolf Hitler. With many Jewish people displaced from their European homeland, they were sent to palestine, where they settled. -
Deir Yassin Massacre
The Deir Yassin Massacre of 1948 is one of the most well-known atrocities committed by Zionist armed forces. The massacre occured when the Zionist Militias Irgun and Lehi stormed the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin, killing men, women and children in their own homes with grenades and firearms. The Massacre is still remembered today as one of the darkest events of the Arab-Israeli conflict. -
State of Israel Declared
The Jewish Peoples Council under the leadership of David Ben Gurion declares the State of Israel, following the withdrawal of Britain from Palestine. The drafted UN partition plan allocates 55% of Palestine to Israel, and 45% to Palestine, with most arable land being under Israeli rule. -
First Arab-Israeli War
Following the Israeli Declaration of Independence, the Arab league countries of Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt and Syria with the support of other Arab and Muslim volunteers, declare war on Israel, aiming to invade from the allocated Palestinian land. With the support of America, Israel defeats the Arab countries. -
Suez Crisis
After president Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt nationalizes the Suez Canal, Israel, with the help of the British and French invade Egypt. Israel proceeds to occupy the Sinai Peninsula until 1957. This act of aggression from the three countries is frowned upon by the United Nations and after international pressure and threats of aggression from the USSR, the Israeli, French and British are forced to withdraw, humiliated by defeat. This severely effects the worlds opinion of the three countries. -
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Israeli Occupation of Palestine and other Arab territories
After the Six Day War of 1967, Israel occupied all Palestinian territories, as well as the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria. Despite the Sinai Peninsula being returned to Egypt, the Palestinian Territories as well as the Golan Heights in Syria remain under Israeli military occupation -
3rd Arab Israeli War- Six Day War
Israel launches preemptive strikes against Egyptian airfields, before invading the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula. With the need for assistance, Egypt calls on Syria and Jordan to attack from Israel's northern and eastern borders with support from Iraqi forces as well. Israel repels the Syrian and Jordanian attacks, occupying the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan as well as the Golan Heights from Syria. -
4th Arab Israeli War-Yom Kippur War
Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Syrian president Hafez al Assad collaborate to invade Israel, with the goals of recapturing the Golan Heights for Syria and the Sinai Peninsula for Egypt. King Hussein of Jordan, fearing being drawn into another war with Israel secretly warns Golda Meir of Israel of the upcoming Arab attack. Egypt is able to retake the Suez Canal and part of the Sinai, however the overall attempted attack from both countries is unsuccessful. -
Camp David Accords
After the Yom-Kippur war, under the mediation of the United States, Egypt under Anwar Sadat and Israel under Menachem Begin work towards a peace deal. This deal is successful, with the Sinai Peninsula being returned to Egypt as well as Egypts formal recognition of Israel. -
Assassination of Anwar Sadat
With Egypt now being the only Arab state to recognize Israel, Egypt's government has not only lost respect from some of its Arab neighbours but many of its own citizens. During a military parade, a group of Muslim Brotherhood extremists attack the presidential stand and fatally shoot Anwar Sadat. -
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First Intifada
The first intifada was a mass rebellion from Palestinian people against Israeli occupation. The protests were met by severe force from the Israeli Armed Forces. Houses of Palestinian people were demolished, along with many being imprisoned and protesters being fired upon with machine guns. -
Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords of 1993 occurred between the Israeli and Palestinian governments under American mediation, in an attempt to reach a higher level of peace between the two sides. In these accords, Palestine officially recognized Israel as a state and Israel recognized the PLO as a legitimate organization. The following year saw a the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty signed. -
Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
After efforts to make peace with Palestine and recognizing the Palestinian Liberation Organization as a legitimate cause, Yitzhak Rabin is shot and killed by an Israeli Zionist during a public speech, seen as a traitor to the Israeli-Zionist cause. It is said by some that his death ended the Israeli-Palestinian peace progress. -
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Second Intifada
The Second Intifada occurred after Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount, home to the Al-Aqsa mosque, with is one of the most sacred mosques in Islam. Violence between Palestinian protestors and Israeli forces included suicide bombings, airstrikes and gunfire. During the 5 years of the Intifada, 3 thousand Palestinians were killed, as well as a thousand Israelis. -
Bibliography
-Occupation 101
-The 50 Years War episodes 1-6
-Class Resources
-Syria-The Reckoning episodes 1&2- al-Jazeera
