Israeli-Palestinian Timeline 1917 - 2006
Nov 2, 1917 British issued the Balfour Declaration, viewed by
Jews and Arabs as promising a “National Home” for the Jews in Palestine.
1936-1939 Arab Revolt led by Haj Amin Al-Husseini. Over 5,000
Arabs were killed according to some sources, mostly by British. Several hundred
Jews were killed by Arabs. Husseini fled to Iraq and then to Nazi Germany.
May 15, 1948 Israel War of Independence (1948 War). Declaration
of Israel as the Jewish State; British leave Palestine; Egypt, Syria, Iraq,
Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia declared war on Israel. Egyptian, Syrian and
Jordanian invasion began.
April 3, 1949 Armistice - Israel and Arab states agree to armistice.
Israel gained about 50% more territory than was originally allotted to it
by the UN Partition Plan.
Oct. 29, 1956 Suez Campaign. In retaliation for a series of
escalating border raids as well as the closure of the straits of Tiran and
Suez canal to Israeli shipping, and to prevent Egyptian use of newly acquired
Soviet arms in a war, Israel invades the Sinai peninsula and occupies it for
several months, with French and British collaboration.
May, 1964 PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) founded with
the aim of destroying Israel. The Palestinian National Charter (1968) officially
called for liquidation of Israel.
May, 1967 Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser closes the straits
of Tiran to Israeli shipping and dismisses UN peacekeeping force. Negotiations
with US to reopen the Straits of Tiran fail.
June 5-10,1967 6-day war . Israel destroys the Egyptian air
force on the ground, conquers and occupies Sinai and Gaza, then conquers the
West Bank from Jordan, and Golan Heights from Syria. UN resolution 242 called
for Israeli withdrawal, establishment of peace.
Oct. 6, 1973 Yom Kippur War (October War). In a surprise attack
on the Jewish day of atonement, Egypt retook the Suez canal and a narrow zone
on the other side. Syria reconquered the Golan Heights. Following massive
US and Soviet resupplying of the sides, Israel succeeded in pushing back the
Syrians and threatening Damascus. In Sinai, the IDF crossed the Suez Canal
and cut off the Egyptian Third Army.
March 26, 1979 Peace treaty signed between Egypt and Israel.
June 7, 1981 Israel destroys Iraqi nuclear reactor in daring
raid.
Oct. 6, 1981 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is assassinated
while on the reviewing stand of a victory parade.
June 6, 1982 Massive Israeli invasion of Lebanon to fight PLO.
Sept. 13, 1993 Oslo Declaration of Principles - Israel and PLO
agree to mutual recognition.
Sept 28, 1995 Oslo Interim Agreement signed. Palestinian Authority
to be established.
Nov. 4, 1995 Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin assassinated by right-wing
Israeli fanatic Yigal Amir. Rabin is replaced by Shimon Peres
June, 1996 Right-Wing Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu elected
Prime Minister in Israel, replacing Shimon Peres.
Sept, 1996 "Al-Aksa tunnel riots - Arab sources spread
the false rumor that a gate opened in an underground tunnel tourist attraction
by the Israeli government, endangered the foundations of the Al-Aqsa mosque.
This caused several days of rioting and numerous casualties.
Jan 18, 1997 Israel and Palestinians reach agreement on Israeli
redeployment in the West-Bank city of Hebron
Oct. 1998 Wye River Plantation talks result in an agreement
for Israeli redeployment and release of political prisoners and renewed Palestinian
commitment to correct its violations of the Oslo accords including excess
police force, illegal arms and incitement in public media and education.
May 17, 1999 Israel elects Labor party leader and Former General Ehud Barak
as Prime Minister in a landslide. Barak promises rapid progress toward peace.
2000 Israel leaves Lebanon with the understanding that the
international community will not allow any attacks from any forces in Lebanon.
March, 2000 Israeli-Syrian peace negotiations fail when Hafez
Assad rejects an Israeli offer relayed by US President Clinton in Geneva.
Sept. 28, 2000 Palestinians initiated riots after Israeli opposition
leader Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount, which is also the location of
the Haram as Sharif holy to Muslims.
Sept. 11, 2001 Terror attacks on World Trade Center in NYC and
the Pentagon carried out by fanatic Islamic Al-Qaida group headed by Osama
Bin Laden initiate US war on terror. Israel and Palestinians agree to a cease
fire, but it is not implemented.
Feb 6, 2001 Right-wing Likud leader Ariel Sharon elected Prime
Minister in Israel replacing Ehud Barak and promising "peace and security."
March-April 2002 Israel conducts operation Defensive Wall in
the West Bank, following a large number of Palestinian suicide attacks on
civilian targets. Saudi peace initiative adopted at Beirut summit.
Jan 28, 2003 Elections in Israel give wide margin (40 seats)
to right wing Likud party, returning PM Ariel Sharon for another term.
March 19,2003 US begins invasion of Iraq by a strike against
a building where Saddam Hussein and other leaders are meeting. Baghdad falls,
April 9.
July 9, 2004 International court of Justice (ICJ) rules that
the Israeli security barrier violates international law and must be torn down.
Nov 11, 2004 Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat dies.
Jan 9, 2005 Mahmoud Abbas elected President of the Palestinian
National Authority.
Jan 10, 2005 Ariel Sharon forms unity government with Labor
and United Torah Judaism parties in Israel.
April 2005 Ariel Sharon visits US President George Bush at his
Texas ranch. Syrian Army leaves Lebanon, officially ending Syrian occupation.
May 26, 2005 Mahmud Abbas visits US President George Bush at
the White House, an important symbolic gesture signaling US backing for Abbas
and Palestinian aspirations. Israel releases 400 Palestinian prisoners including
some with blood on their hands. Britain confirms "low level" negotiations
with Hamas.
June, 2005 Violence flares in Gaza. US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice visits Palestinian and Israeli leaders to ensure coordination of Israeli
withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli PM Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas meet in Jerusalem June 21. Sharon announces that Palestinians have promised
to coordinate regarding Gaza withdrawal. PM Abbas postpones Palestinian legislative
elections in order to change the election law, amidst growing concern that
Hamas will trounce Abbas's Fatah party in the elections. Lebanese elections
give a decisive majority to the opposition to Syria, led by Saad Hariri, son
of slain leader Rafiq Hariri.
Aug. 15, 2005 Disengagement - Israeli evacuation of Gaza settlements and four West Bank settlements began on August 15 and was completed August 24.
2004 Resolution (1559) passed by U. N. stating that Hezbollah should be disarmed.
July 12 2006: Hezbollah militants cross into Israel from Palestine and kill eight Israeli soldiers and kidnap two others in a bid to negotiate a prisoner exchange, a demand rebuffed by Israel. Another five Israeli soldiers are killed after the ambush. Israel responds with a naval blockade and by bombing hundreds of targets in Lebanon, including Beirut's airport and Hezbollah's headquarters in southern Beirut. Hezbollah responds with rocket attacks targeting northern Israeli cities. Fighting leaves dozens of Lebanese civilians dead and coincides with a two-week-old Israeli military campaign in Gaza in response to the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants.
Aug. 1st. 2006 Israli forces attack Baalbek.
Aug. 2006 Israli forces attack South Beirut.
Aug. 2006 U. N. passes cease fire resolution.
Aug. 14th. 2006 Cease fire goes into effect and Israel orders its troops to halt offensive.
This is ongoing as this author believes that Israel will be attacked in the future by the same Hezbollah forces.