1. Creation of Israel

2. 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

3. Ottoman Rule and British Mandate
: 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
: WW2 and Holocaust
created Jewish immigration to Palestine
increased world sympathy for the Jewish people

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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