Creation of Israel

Ancient Times Jerusalem as a holy city for Jews, Muslims, and Christians Jerusalem as the capital city of the Jewish people Roman Empire exiled Jewish people Jews lived throughout world, mostly in Europe

Ottoman Rule and British Mandate 1914-1919: As a result of WW1 Ottoman Empire collapsed 1917: “Balfour Declaration” letter from Foreign Secretary Balfour to Lord Rothschild, Jewish leader in Britain: “His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people” 1919: League of Nations, gave “mandate” to Britain to govern Palestine 1939-1945: WW2 and Holocaust created Jewish immigration to Palestine increased world sympathy for the Jewish people

1948: Creation of Israel 1948: Britain left Israel, leaving control to a new country, Israel Immediate war between Israelis, Palestinians, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq Israel survived; Armistice boundaries gave West Bank to Jordan, and Gaza Strip to Egypt. Geographically, borders of Israel difficult to defend

1956 War Egypt created many small border incursions and threatened to close the Suez Canal and access to Red Sea to Israel With French and UK support, Israel preemptively invaded Sinai Peninsula UN demanded Israel’s withdrawal; Israel returned Sinai after a few months UN Soldiers patrolling Sinai in 1957

1967: Six-Day War 1964: Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) formed in exile Escalating tensions between Israel and Egypt led to Six Day War Israel immediately defeated Egypt, Syria, and Jordan Israel seized Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, and West Bank 500,000 Palestinians fled

1973 Yom Kippur War Egypt, Syria, and Jordan fought Israel to regain lost land Israel defended land after initial losses Saudi Arabia refused to sell oil to countries supporting Israel until 1974 Throughout 1970s, Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israel (e.g., 1972 Olympics) 1977: Egypt’s Anwar Sadat flew to Israel and spoke to parliament -- first Arab leader to recognize the state of Israel

1978: Camp David Accord 1978: Israel and Egypt signed Camp David accord under President Jimmy Carter Israel returned Sinai Peninsula, Egypt promised peace US promised huge aid to both Israel and Egypt Egypt and Israel at peace ever since Sadat was assassinated in 1981

Palestinian Guerrilla Uprising Camp David accord effectively ended international wars over Israel PLO in exile Bombings in Israel; guerrilla bases in southern Lebanon 1982: Israel invaded Lebanon to destroy bases 1987: Intifada uprising began in Gaza Strip and spread to West Bank 1990s; Israeli established “settlements” in land previously controlled by Palestinians

Creation of an Independent Palestine 1993: Oslo peace accord, brokered by Bill Clinton 1994: Creation of autonomous Palestinian lands inside Israel PLO’s Yasser Arafat allowed to return to Palestine, where he led the Palestinian National Authority Plans call for eventual creation of independent Palestine 2000s: Suicide bombings 2003: Start of construction of wall separating Israel from Palestinian land