U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST A Timeline ©2012, TESCCC U.S. History Unit 12, Lesson 1

1948: The Founding of Israel The U.S. supported the founding of Israel and President Truman officially recognized the State of Israel. This led to the long relationship between the two nations. ©2012, TESCCC

1948: Arab–Israeli War 1948 Arab-Israeli War (November July 1949: Boundaries defined in the UN partition plan of 1947: Blue: Area assigned for a Jewish state Green and Orange: Area assigned for an Arab state; White: Corpus separatum of Jerusalem (neither Jewish nor Arab). ©2012, TESCCC

1956: The Suez Crisis U.S. & Britain offer to fund the building of the Aswan Dam to try to keep Soviets out of the Middle East Nasser, leader of Egypt, gets friendlier with the Soviet Union U.S. withdraws offer Egypt nationalizes Suez Canal, closing it to Israel Israel, Britain, & France invade Egypt Although the invasion was successful, the U.S. and USSR forced Israel to withdraw ©2012, TESCCC

1967: The Six Day War Six-Day War (June 1967) - Israel against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria Israeli took control of the West Bank, the Golan Heights, Sinai, the Gaza Strip ©2012, TESCCC

1973: The Yom Kippur War Surprise joint attack on Israel by Egypt & Syria on the Jewish holy day Egypt and Syria tried to regain territory lost in Six Days War Despite initial gains, Egypt and Syria were pushed back War ended with few territorial changes ©2012, TESCCC

1979: The Camp David Accords Two framework agreements signed at the White House between Israel & Egypt One dealt with Palestinian territories One led to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty Sadat (Egypt) & Begin (Israel) shared the Nobel Peace Prize for signing the Accords ©2012, TESCCC

1979: Iran Hostage Crisis 1953 the Shah of Iran was installed as leader of the Iranian government with U.S. aid 1964 Ayatollah Khomeini (religious & political leader) exiled 1979 Khomeini returned to Iran while the Shah on vacation; before year’s end, Khomeini became leader of Iran 11/4/79 a mob entered the U.S. embassy in Tehran and captured 66 U.S. citizens (14 released early) Economic sanctions & a military operation was not immediately successful Hostages released after 444 days, on election day 1981 ©2012, TESCCC

1982: Lebanon War Palestinian Liberation Organization launched terrorist attacks against Israel from southern Lebanon Israel invaded Lebanon and expelled the PLO Israel maintained a “Security Zone” until 2000 ©2012, TESCCC

1983: Marine Barracks Attack American military forces in Lebanon as a peacekeepers during the Lebanese Civil War Suicide bombers attacked American & French barracks 241 American servicemen killed, 60 injured; 58 French killed, 15 wounded ©2012, TESCCC