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These timelines are intended to give you an overview and reference points for major events. Links to historical sources and the brief history will help round out the picture. Additional information is available in the bibliography and Searchable Book Database.
Concise Overview of Recent Israeli-Palestinian History
| 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. The war created over 780,000 Palestinian refugees who fled or were evicted from Jewish held areas. Gaza fell under the jurisdiction of Egypt. The West Bank of the Jordan was occupied by Jordan and later annexed, consistent with secret agreements made with the Zionist leadership prior to the initiation of hostilities. |
| 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. Israel withdraws after a UN peace keeping force is placed in Sinai, and US guarantees right of passage for Israeli shipping through the Straits of Tiran. |
| 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 5-11,1967 | 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. Ariel Sharon crossed the Suez Canal and cut off the Egyptian Third Army. |
| March 26, 1979 | Peace treaty signed between Egypt and Israel. |
| June 6, 1982 | Massive Israeli invasion of Lebanon to fight PLO. UN Security Council Resolution 509 demands that Israel withdraw all its military forces forthwith, but Israel advances rapidly to Beirut, surrounding the capital by 13 Jun. Israeli cabinet is split on the sudden expansion of the war, beyond the 40 KM limit originally declared by Sharon. |
| Sept. 13, 1993 | Oslo Declaration of Principles - Israel and PLO agree to mutual recognition, Yasser Arafat and PLO will be allowed to return to Gaza. PLO and Palestinian leadership renounce violence and use of terrorism, and agree to revise the PLO charter to remove chapters referring to destruction of Israel. Over the next, years, Israel withdraws from a small area (Area A) that is given to Palestinian sovereignty, a larger area (Area B) is given to Palestinian civil control only, while a third area of the West Bank and Gaza strip remains under total Israeli control. Israel did not dismantle any settlements, and the number of settlers and new settlements increased considerably. Palestinian groups did not remove their charter goals of destroying Israel; the PNA continued to finance, organize and encourage terror activities. |
| 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. Violence was apparently encouraged by Fatah Tanzim, as admitted by Marwan Barghouhi. Violence escalated rapidly from rock throwing to machine gun and mortar fire, suicide bombings and lethal road ambushes, including some incidents instigated by settlers against Palestinians. Israelis killed 15 Israeli Arabs in riots in September/October 2000, and over 2,000 Palestinians in retaliatory raids thereafter. Palestinians kill over 700 Israelis. Violence continues for over a year [to present - March 2003]. |
| Sept. 11, 2001 | Terror attacks on World Trade Center in NYC and the Pentagon carried out by fanatic Islamic Al-Qaiada group headed by Osama Bin Laden initiate US war on terror. Israel and Palestinians agree to a cease fire, but it is not implemented. |
| 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. |
Detailed Timeline
| 1300? BCE | Migration and conquest of Canaan by the Phillistines and Israelite tribes. Map of Canaan. |
| 1000? BCE | Jewish conquest of Jerusalem; reign of David (maps); After the death of David's son, Solomon, the kingdom split into two: Israel in the north, Judea in Jerusalem and the south (maps). Brief History of Early Palestine in maps. |
| 721 BCE | Fall of Israel (Northern Kingdom) to Assyria |
| 586 BCE | Fall of Judea (Southern Kingdom) to Babylon |
| 516 BCE | Rebuilding of the Second Temple under Persian rule. |
| 331 BCE | Alexander the Great conquers Persia. The land was subject to Egyptian rule after his death, followed by Seleucid Syrian rule. |
| 166 BCE | Revolt of Judah Maccabee against Syrian Hellenic dynasty |
| 61 BC | Roman conquest of Jerusalem by Pompei. Land is divided into various provinces (maps). |
| 70 AD | First Jewish revolt. Fall of the Jewish Second Temple to Romans |
| 133-135 | Second Jewish revolt under Bar - Kochba crushed. Judea renamed Palestina. |
| 622 | Hijra of Mohammed. Islam is founded. |
| 640 | Arab conquest of Jerusalem. (slightly earlier according to some sources). Land was divided into the Jund of filastin, in the south (capital in Al-Lod and later in Ramlah), and the Jund of Urdunn in the north, with capital in Tiberias (Tabariyeh). |
| 641 | Arab conquest of Egypt. |
| 705 | Dome of the Rock (Omar) mosque is completed by Caliph Abd’ al Malik ibn Marwanwho rules from Jerusalem. |
| 715 | The Al-Aqsa Mosque is completed by the Caliph Walid. |
| 717 | Caliph Suleiman builds Ramlah |
| 1071 | Battle of Manzikert. The Byzantine emperor Romanus IV Diaogenes is defeated by the Seljuk Turks, opening Asia Minor to Turkish invasion. |
| 1099 | Crusaders conquer Jerusalem, slaughter most Jewish and Moslem inhabitants. |
| 1187 | Salah-ed-din (Saladin) reconquers Jerusalem |
| 1260 | Battle of Ayn Jalut (Nazereth) - Holagu (Mongols) defeated and last of the Crusader forts overcome by Egyptian Mamluks. |
| 1453 | Constantinople falls to Ottoman Sultan Mehmed. |
| 1517 | Ottoman Turkish conquest of Palestine. Muslim walls were subsequently build around Jerusalem. |
| 1799 | Napoleon conquers Jaffa but retreats before Acco/ |
| 1831 | Egyptian Conquest of Palestine area by Mehmed Ali of Egypt, who rebelled against the Ottomans. He was forced to withdraw in 1840 under pressure by European allies. |
| 1834 | Jerusalem families including the Abu Ghosh clan revolt against Egyptian rule. The rebellion is eventually crushed. |
| 1839 | Tanzimat - reorganization program- is proclaimed in the Ottoman empire. |
| 1840 | Blood libel (accusation that Jews kill Christian children to use their blood for Passover Matzoth) against Damascus Jewry |
| 1843 | First Zionist writings of Rabbi Alcalay and of Rabbi Kalischer, Emuna Yeshara. |
| 1856 | Further reforms in the Ottoman Empire, including requirement to register ownership of land and pay taxes on it. |
| 1878 | First Zionist Settlement - Petah Tikwa |
| 1897 | First Zionist Congress in Basle, Switzerland. |
| July 3 1908 | The Young Turks revolt breaks out in the Ottoman empire, and is eventually led by Enver Pasha; Sultan ‘Abd al-Hamid II is forced to restore the constitution of 1876, entailing the creation of a new parliament, and indirect representative elections. ‘Abd al-Hamid is then deposed (27Apr 09), and his brother Mehmet V installed. Policies for the ‘Turkification’ of the Ottoman territories promulgated through 1909, resulting in the creation of societies promoting pan-Arab ideas |
| 1908 | First Arabic newspaper in Haifa, al-Karmil, popularizes opposition to selling land to Zionists. |
| 1909 | Foundation of Tel Aviv by Zionists (Called Ahuzat Bayit) near Jaffa; foundation of first Kibbutz - Degania. |
| 1911 | Filastin, large Arabic newspaper, launched in Jaffa. |
| July 1915 | Husayn-McMahon Correspondence - Britain promises independence for Arabia. |
| May 9 1916 | Sykes-Picot Agreement divides up Fertile Crescent between France & Britain into zones of influence, recognizing Arab independence in part of the land. |
| Jun 1916 | Husayn of Arabia proclaims revolt against the Turks urged on by British promises of independence and with support of T.E. Lawrence for military operations. In Oct he was proclaimed king of Saudi Arabia, but the British supported Saud, who had been in control of Riyadh since 1902, and who made a pact with the British in 1915. |
| Nov 2, 1917 | British issued the Balfour Declaration, viewed by Jews and Arabs as promising a “National Home” for the Jews in Palestine. |
| Dec 1917 | Gen. Sir Edmund Allenby captures Jerusalem from Ottomans for the British. Col. Reginald Storrs is appointed military governor. |
| Nov 1918 | First Muslim-Christian association formed in Jaffa to oppose the creation of a Jewish homeland. Another was formed in Jerusalem soon after. |
| Jan. 1919 | First Palestinian Congress advocated incorporation of Palestine into greater Syria. |
| March 1919 | Widespread national revolt begins in Egypt against British rule after nationalist leaders were arrested. The Waft party is created. |
| May 19 1919 | Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) lands at Samsun in Turkey and begins organizing nationalist forces to oppose the sultanate & the Allied occupation |
| May 23 1919 | Kurdish revolt against the British, led by Shaykh Mahmud Berzendji of Sulaymaniyya, who proclaims an independent Kurdistan. The revolt continued until 1931. |
| July 1919 | General Syrian Congress (which included prominent Palestinians, Transjordanians, Lebanese & Syrians) held in Damascus, supporting the independence of an undivided Syria, and opposed to Zionism. Britain cedes authority over Syria to France after the congress finishes; Gen. Henri Gourand becomes High Commissioner. |
| July 19 1919 | In Turkey, Ataturk creates a provisional government based in Ankara. |
| 28 Aug 1919 | Henry King and Charles Crane, the US members of the International Commission of Inquiry, sent primarily on the initiative of President Wilson, present their report based on their visit to the region in June-July, against creation of a Jewish National home in Palestine. |
| Feb - Mar 1920 | Jewish settlements of Tel Hai and Metullah in N. Palestine attacked (Feb 20). Josef Trumpeldor killed in second attack at Tel Hai (March 1) |
| March 1920 | Faysal elected and crowned king of Greater Syria at 2nd General Syrian Congress in Damascus; assembly proclaims independence from France of Greater Syria; rejects Balfour Declaration and Sykes-Picot agreement. |
| April, 1920 | Musa Kazim al-Husayni, mayor of Jerusalem, is replaced by Raghib al-Nashashibi; clan rivalry grows. |
| April, 1920 | "Nebi Musa" Arab riots led by Haj Amin El Husseini and Aref El Aref in Hebron and Jerusalem. Forty Six Jews Killed. |
| June 1920 | Haganah, Jewish Self Defense, organized by Vladimir (Ze'ev) Jabotinsky, Eliahu Golumb and others. |
| July 1920 | French forces under Gourand retake Damascus by forc with British support. Britain arrests Palestinian notables who had supported Faysal. |
|
Dec 1920
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Histadrut, the General Federation of Hebrew Workers in the Land of Israel (Histadrut Haklalit Shel Haovdim Haivriyim Be'eretz Yisrael), was formed. Remained exclusively Jewish until 1960s, when it officially dropped ‘Hebrew’ from its name (1966). |
| May 1921 | Arab riots in Jaffa against Jewish population. |
| May 10, 1921 | Haj Amin El Husseini appointed Grand Mufti by British High Commissioner Herbert Samuel, though Husseini had been convicted of organizing riots in 1920 and had been sentenced to ten years in jail |
| Jan 1922 | Haj Amin El Husseini appointed President of the Supreme Muslim Council. |
| March 1922 | British grant independence to Egypt. |
| June 3, 1922 | The Churchill ("Command") White Paper notes that the Balfour declaration only promised a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and reserves East Palestine for Transjordan. |
| July 24, 1922 | British Mandate for Palestine; Official establishment of Transjordan as a separate state; Britain, in military control of Syria, allows French forces led by Gourand to retake Damascus by force. |
| August, 1929 | Arab riots in Hebron, Jerusalem, Safed, Haifa, Motza and elsewhere. The Jews had set up a dividing screen at the Wailing Wall in Yom Kippur of 1928 to separate men and women worshippers, prompting rumors that the Jews wanted to build a synagogue at wall, which were spread deliberately by Haj Amin El-Husseini. Amid heightening tensions, a demonstration by Jews in 1929 and Arab incitement ignited violence and rioting again Jews. Thousands of Jews fled the ancient Jewish quarter in Jerusalem. The Hebron Jewish community was evacuated after 64-67 were killed in riots. |
| Oct 21, 1930 | British Passfield White Paper proposes to limit Jewish immigration to Palestine. |
| 1936-1939 | Arab Revolt led or coopted by Haj Amin Al-Husseini and financed by Axis powers. Over 5,000 Arabs were killed according to some sources. Several hundred Jews were killed by Arabs. Husseini fled to Iraq and then to Nazi Germany. |
| 1937-1938 | Peel and Woodhead commissions recommend partitioning Palestine into a small Jewish state and a large Arab one. |
| May 17, 1939 | 1939 White Paper limits Jewish immigration to Palestine to 75,000 in total, restricts Jewish land purchases, envisions an Arab Palestinian state. |
| May 9, 1942 | Biltmore Program - Zionist leaders, headed by Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion, convene at the Biltmore Hotel in New York and set their postwar program (known as the Biltmore Program). The program was largely written by Meyer Weisgal, but came to be attributed to Ben-Gurion. The meeting was occasioned by increasing reports of murder of Jews in Europe, which made it essential to allow Jewish immigration in Palestine, they felt. The program recommended an end to the British Mandate and demand Jewish control over immigration to Palestine with the aim of founding a Jewish Commonwealth. Implicit in the program was rejection of the binational state program of Mapam (left-socialist), and acceptance of partition of Palestine- anathema to the revisionists and to the Zionist right. However, the need to save European Jewry overrode other considerations, allowing revisionists to rejoin the Zionist movement and accept the loss of Transjordan. |
| Oct 7, 1944 | Arab leaders meet in Alexandria to discuss postwar plans for independence and ways to prevent implementation of Jewish control over Palestine. |
| Nov 6, 1944 | Members of the Jewish Lehi underground Eliyahu Hakim and Eliyahu Bet Zuri assassinated Lord Moyne in Cairo. Moyne, a known anti-Zionist, was Minister of State for the Middle East and in charge of carrying out the terms of the 1939 White paper - preventing Jewish immigration to Palestine by force. The assassination did not change British policy, but it turned Winston Churchill against the Zionists. Hakim and Bet Zuri were caught and were hanged by the British in 1945. |
| March 22, 1945 | League of Arab States set up (Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Transjordan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, with Musa ‘Alami as Arab States’ chosen representative of the Palestinians) with British approval to shift welfare responsibility onto local population and to ensure continuing Arab support. The goals of the league were as stated in the Alexandria Protocol, of which it was an outgrowth. Charter proclaims goal of achieving closer aims between Arab States and declares that Palestine is a member of the League in a special annex. |
| July 18, 1947 | British rammed the Jewish illegal immigrant ship Exodus (formerly "President Warfield") on the high seas. They towed it to Haifa where it was the subject of extensive publicity, generating public sympathy for the Zionist cause. The passengers were eventually disembarked in Hamburg. The incident set world and particularly US opinion against the British, and cause the British to intern illegal immigrants thereafter in Cyprus, rather than attempting to return them to Europe. |
| July 22, 1947 | Irgun bombed the offices of the Mandate in the King David Hotel, killing 91 persons. |
| Sept 1, 1947 | UNSCOP issues its report, calling for partition of Palestine. |
| Nov. 29, 1947 | UN Partition Resolution (GA 181) - Palestine was to be divided into a Jewish State and an Arab State; Jerusalem was to be internationalized. Arab countries and Arab league refuse to recognize the resolution. |
| Dec. 1, 1947 | Arab riots in Jerusalem. Beginning of Arab blockade of Jerusalem. The period to May 1948 was characterized by numerous skirmishes, road ambushes, riots, bombings and massacres, whether organized by one of the other sides or spontaneous. The Haifa riots and massacres were typical. T |
| January 1948 | Arab Salvation Army (also called Arab Liberation Army - ALA) are admitted to Palestine by the British, following a promise not to attack Jewish settlements. Their leader, Fauzi Al-Kaukji may have entered Palestine only in March. Jewish Agency concludes arms deal with Czechoslovakia, but most arms do not arrive until June 1948, after the British have left. The UN, including the US, had placed an arms embargo on Palestine. This did not apply to Arab countries including Transjordan. As independent states, they were allowed to acquire arms. The Jordan Legion received a steady supply of arms from Britain through the Suez Canal, at least until May 1948. Hagana agents purchased 20 Auster light aircraft in Britain, sold for scrap, rebuilt them and brought them to Palestine for use of the Haganah. Haganah later rebuilt Spitfires left by the mandate for scrap as well, but did not have real fighter and bomber aircraft until May 1948 or, when Czech Messerschmidts and B-17s purchased clandestinely were brought into the country. |
| April 6-8, 1948 | Arab blockade of Jerusalem is broken temporarily by operation Nachshon. Death of Abd-El-Qader Al-Husseini at Kastel - The foremost Palestinian military leader is shot by a Jewish sentry when he wanders into Jewish held Kastel in the Jerusalem corridor thinking it is in Arab hands. |
| April 9, 1948 | Deir Yassin Massacre - Jewish dissident underground groups - Irgun and Lehi kill over 100 Palestinian civilians in the Jerusalem village of Deir Yassin. |
| April 13, 1948 | Haddassah Convoy Massacre - In retaliation for Deir Yassin, Arabs killed Jewish medical personnel and sick persons on their way to Hadassah hospital. |
| April 13-20, 1948 | Operation Har'el launched by Hagannah at conclusion of Operation Nachshon, does not succeed in opening the road to Jerusalem. |
| April 22-31 1948 | Operation Misparayim launched by Hagannah to assume control of Haifa after British withdrawal and attacks by Arab forces and Irgun. |
| May 14, 1948 | Gush Etzion Massacre - In retaliation for Deir Yassin Massacre, Arabs killed over 50 Jewish defenders at Gush Etzion, after they had surrendered. |
| May 12, 1948 | Haganah captures Tsfat (Safed). |
| May 13, 1948 | Jaffa surrenders to Haganah. |
| 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. |
| May 17, 1948 | Haganah captures Acco (Acre). |
| May 18, 1948 | Syrian army captures Massada and Merom Hagolan. |
| May 28, 1948 | Jewish quarter of the old city of Jerusalem falls to the Jordan Legion. The inhabitants were protected from the wrath of a lynch mob by the Legion under Abdullah Tell, and noncombatants were expelled to West Jerusalem. About 300 Haganah defenders were taken prisoner and sent to Jordan. The entire quarter including 58 of the 59 synagogues was demolished by the Arab mob despite efforts of the Legion. |
| June 11, 1948 | First truce begins, lasting until 8 July. |
| June 23, 1948 | Irgun’s Altalena ship brings weapons and 940 immigrants to Palestine. This was a violation of UN embargo, but Israel government agreed to it, provided the Irgun handed over the weapons to IDF and formed a unified force. Irgun Commander Menahem Begin refused to hand over weapons and Irgun insisted on keeping a portion of the arms for its own use as a separate force. Palmach units of IDF under Yigal Allon attempted to capture weapons by force, killing 14 Irgun men. Yizhak Rabin, in command of shore batteries in Tel-Aviv, was ordered to fire upon and sink the Altalena after it attempted a landing there. According to some reports, factions of the Irgun (Etzel) were planning a coup with the arms. |
| July 08, 1948 | Egyptian army breaks truce, due to end July 9. Attacks from neighborhood of Majdal (Ashdod). Israeli counterattack at Faluja was unsuccessful. This phase of the war is known as "the ten days," and included Mivtza Dani - the Israeli conquest of Lydda (Lod) and Ramla, breaking the Arab siege of Jerusalem, and creating thousands of refugees, as well as advances in the north. During this time Israel had acquired three B-17s and some Dakotas. One of the B-17s succeeded in dropping some bombs on Cairo on its way to delivery in Israel, others bombed Damascus and Rafa. |
| July 10, 1948 | Arab League announced the establishment of a temporary Palestinian civilian administration over Arab held-areas of Palestine, but it was never implemented |
| July 12, 1948 | Egyptians attack Kibbutz Negba with armor and massive troop concentrations. Israelis suffer 5 dead, 16 wounded, Egyptian casualties 200- 300 dead and wounded. |
| July 19, 1948 | Second Truce. |
| Sept 17, 1948 | Swedish Count Folke Bernadotte, a UN mediator, was assassinated in Jerusalem, and Lehi members were suspected. The Israel government outlawed the organization's branch in Jerusalem and shut down its publication, Hamivrak. The leaders of Lehi, Natan Yellin-Mor and Mattityahu Shmuelevitz, were sentenced to long jail terms by a military court, but were released in a general amnesty. Bernadotte, who had been instrumental in saving about 21,000 Jews in WW II, was proposing to relieve Israel of the Negev and force return of the Palestinian refugees. |
| Sept 22, 1948 | Palestinian States - AHC communiqué announces the establishment of the Government of All Palestine (APG; Hukumat 'Umum Filastin); Declaration of Independence proclaimed by Hajj Amin to Palestine National Council in Gaza (30Sept-1Oct) on 1Oct, with Hajj Amin as President of the PNC, Ahmad Hilmi ‘Abd al-Baqi as PM, Jamal al-Husayni as Foreign Minister, in the Mandate territory of Palestine, with the flag of the 1916 Arab Revolt. Jerusalem as capital, Gaza as seat of government. Recognized and sponsored by Egypt and Arab League, who sought to forestall ‘Abdullah’s plan to annex West Bank; strongly opposed by Jordan, who organized a much larger rival Palestinian Congress in Amman on 30Sept to support Jordan’s policy in Palestine. APG issued Palestinian passports; but with Egyptian disillusionment, HQ transferred to Cairo in Oct, Hajj Amin was confined to Cairo and is & actions curtailed; many leading members left to work for Amman. Ahmad Hilmi continued to represent Palestine in the League until his death in September 63. |
| Oct. 15, 1948 | Second truce ends; Israeli offensive breaks Egyptian siege of Israeli settlements in the Negev (operation Yoav). In the north, operation Hiram defeats the Arab Liberation army. IDF massacres in Eilabun, Saliba, Safsaf, Jish, Hule, Majd el-Krum, Bi'na, Dier el assad and Arab al-Mawassa. |
| Dec. 11, 1948 | UN Resolution 194 called for cessation of hostilities, return of refugees who wish to live in peace. The resolution reflected UN and US anger over the assassination of Count Bernadotte. |
| Dec 19, 1948- Jan 7, 49 | Israeli Operation Horev conquers Gaza and enters Sinai. Intervention by British and US forces Israel to withdraw. Israel shot down several British reconnaissance planes, apparently unarmed (four Spitfires and one Tempest) January 7, 1949. |
| March 7-10, 1949 | Operation Uvda - IDF captures southern Negev including Eilat with no resistance. |
| Feb-Jun, 1949 | Israel and Arab states agree to armistice in separate agreements. Israel-Egypt Israel -Lebanon Israel-Jordan Israel-Syria) Israel gained about 50% more territory than was originally allotted to it by the UN Partition Plan. The war created about 780,000 Palestinian refugees who fled or were evicted from Jewish held areas. Gaza fell under the jurisdiction of Egypt. The West Bank of the Jordan was occupied by Jordan and later annexed, consistent with secret agreements with the Jewish leadership made before the outbreak of hostilities. |
| April 27 – Sept 1949 | Lausanne conference - Abortive Israel Arab Truce Negotiations. Minor achievements - working recognition of Israel by Arab States who attended the conference, and acceptance of UN Resolutions by both sides. However no substantive agreements were reached. |
| July, 1951 | Assassination of Jordan's King Abdulla because of rumored plans for peace with Israel. His grandson Hussein was crowned in his place following the brief reign of Tallal. |
| July 23, 1952 | The Free Officers (al-dubbat al-ahrar) movement in Egypt - aware of royal plans to remove dissidents from the army - launch a near-bloodless military coup (only 2 fatalities). Officers were nominally led Gen. Muhammad Najib (who was not invovled in the coup's planning), though were organized by his deputy Gamal ‘Abd al-Nasser. King Faruq forced to abdicate (26 Jul) and is exiled. A new governing authority, the Revolutionary Command Council, is established (27 Jul), and chaired by Nasser with 8 other members (11 from early 1953). Initially, a civilian administration is set up under ‘Ali Mahir, but he opposed RCC plans for land redistribution (Sept 52), with compulsory purchase by the state, and so was dismissed and replaced with direct RCC control. Constitution is suspended (Dec 52), Parliament disbanded, parties banned (Jan 53, for a projected three year period of military rule), monarchy formally abolished, a republic declared & Najib is installed as President, with Nasser as deputy PM (Jun 53). Land reform ensures that the power of large landowners and royal family was broken. Press brought under State control, esp. influential Al-Ahram (later nationalized in 1960). At Nasser’s urging, the nationalism of Egypt's previous government - especially its opposition to Israel and Sudan - is toned down; and Najib indicates that Egypt would participate in US/UK regional defense arrangements (10 Nov), coupled with a request for economic & military aid |
| October 1953 | IDF paratrooper unit 101 under Ariel Sharon killed 69 civilians and destroyed a great deal of property in a raid on the Jordanian village of Qibieh. The raid was a reprisal for a raid on Tirat Yehuda. |
| July 1954 | “The Lavon Affair”: Israeli government spies, seemingly without PM Sharett’s knowledge, attempt to sabotage British & US property in Egypt to put blame on Egyptian terrorists, thus driving a wedge between Britain and Egypt, and postponing British evacuation of the Suez. The plan’s failure leads to the fragmentation of Mapai’s leadership, with recurring crises of mutual recrimination over the next decade. Ben Gurion insisted on a full investigation of the affair but was rebuffed by Lavon partisans. Defense Minister Pinhas Lavon resigns in Feb 1955. Egypt retaliated against Egyptian Jews, some of whom were involved in the plot. |
| Nov 15, 1954 | Najib dismissed as President of Egypt, after Revolutionary Command Council - alienated by his public prominence - had attempted unsuccessfully to engineer his resignation (Feb), had orchestrated pro-RCC demonstrations (25-29Mar) & had installed his main opponent, Nasser, as PM in Apr. Najib is placed under house arrest, Nasser takes over as President. |
| 1955 | Continuous incidents between Egypt and Israel/Syria, primarily in Gaza DMZ. Operation Black Arrow (Hetz Shahor) launched by Israel in Feb 1955, following Egyptian incursions, resulted in a major embarrassment for Egypt and caused Nasser to rethink his strategy with Israel. |
| Feb. 24, 1955 | Baghdad Pact - Pact of Mutual Cooperation Between the Kingdom of Iraq, the Republic of Turkey, the United Kingdom, the Dominion of Pakistan, and the Kingdom of Iran (Baghdad Pact). British/US attempt to minimize Soviet incursions and protect friendly regimes. Israel feels isolated and lacking Western protection. |
| Dec 11, 1955 | Israel launched an attack on Syria following firing on a police patrol boat possibly sent as a deliberate provocation. (operation Olive Leaves), condemned in SCR111, 19 Jan 56, |
| April 5 1956 | Increased tension between Israel & Egypt-Syria. IDF claimed 180 attacks on Israel from Gaza in past four months. Three Israelis killed April 4 when Egyptians opened fire on an Israeli patrol. Israel responded, and an artillery duel culminated in an Israeli artillery barrage at centre of Gaza City (4-5Apr) that killed 59, wounds about 100, mostly civilians. Egypt responded with increased commando raids, sending hundreds of fedayeen across the border in separate raids and killing 12 Israelis. Temporarily calmed through offices of UNS-G. |
| June 1956 | Sharett resigns as Israeli FM (& dies.1965); Golda Meir takes over |
| July 1956 | The US withdraws funding from the Aswan dam, USSR steps in. In response, Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal Company (26 Jul), to opposition of British (lease due to terminate in 1968). Is unanimously supported in this by the Arab League (Aug), though Iraqi leaders secretly call on the British to topple Nasser; imposition of martial law in Iraq. |
| 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. French and British were interested in reversing the nationalization of the canal. Israel withdraws after a UN peace keeping force is placed in Sinai, and US guarantees right of passage for Israeli shipping through the Straits of Tiran. |
| 1957 | Fateh founded (informally) with the aim of destroying Israel. Formal establishment about 1964. |
| 1957 (?) | Construction of Israel nuclear breeder reactor using French technology begins in Dimona some time in the latter part of the 1950s. The French later tried to stop the program, but backed down when Israeli FM Peres said Israel would make the deal public. |
| Feb 1, 1958 | Egypt and Syria announce merger into United Arab Republic, on Syrian communist initiative in an attempt to outbid Ba‘thist call for a federal union, taken up by Syrian Ba‘th FM Salah al-Din Bitar, a Syrian military delegation had flown to Egypt for unity talks (11Jan). Nasser, unexpectedly agrees to immediate unity. Approved by legislatures on 5Feb, and parallel plebiscites on 21 Feb (which also approve Nasser as President). Armies placed under Egypt command; Syrian political parties dissolved (Mar); Syrian "province" is headed by the left Ba‘thists under Akram Hurani. Large land redistribution schemes in both Syria & Iraq, on model of Egypt 1952. Egypt receives its first economic loan from USSR (($126 million) to promote national industries. |
| Nov 18, 1959 | Israel abandons earlier Jordan river diversion scheme, begins work on the National Water Carrier Project, to divert the waters of the River Jordan from the Sea of Galilee to the Negev, taking its share of Jordan water in accordance with Johnston plan. |
| Jan 13-17 1964 | First Arab summit at Cairo (the Egyptians count this as the third Arab Summit) (ie. heads of State, instigated by Nasser), prompted by Israel’s R.Jordan diversion scheme. Arabs declare their intentions of d stopping the Israeli diversion scheme, which is in accordance with the Johnson plan, and decided on establishment of the PLO. A Unified Arab Command under Egyptian supervision is created. This summit and the one that followed in September caused considerable alarm in Israel, and is cited by Avi Shlaim (The Iron Wall) as the actual beginning of the 6 day war. |
| May, 1964 | PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) founded with the aim of destroying Israel. The Palestinian National Charter (1968) officially called for liquidation of Israel. |
| Sept 13, 1964 | Second Arab Summit at Alexandria decides on diversion of the headwaters of the Jordan as well as strengthening regional Arab armies. Arabs declare the aim of destroying Israel. Israel addressed two notes to the UN Security Council, concerning the alarming nature of the summit resolutions to destroy Israel. |
| Sept. 18. 1965 | Third Arab Summit at Casablanca. Conference draws up staged plan for combating Israel, first building up armed forces of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon over 2.5-3 yrs & refraining from war with Israel; then proceeding to war. |
| Nov 13, 1966 | Samu' raid: Israeli troops kill 15 Jordanian soldiers and 3 civilians, & dynamite 125 houses, in an attack on the frontier village of Samu‘ near Hebron; in response to the death of 3 Israeli soldiers by a road mine. Israel is censured by SCR228 (25 Nov 66), but no military response from Amman. This leads to recriminations in the Israeli government, which had intended a smaller scale raid, and Palestinian anger & clashes with Jordanian security forces throughout West Bank, especially in Nablus where the army had to intervene. The PLO gains support. |
| 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. |
| May 27, 1967 | Nasser cancels a planned Egyptian attack on Israel, after it became obvious that the Israelis knew about the plan. |
| May 30, 1967 | Jordan signs a defense pact with Egypt, allows Egyptian command of Jordan Legion. |
| June 6-11,1967 | 6-day war. Following a long period of tension, Israel attacks - 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 (November 1967) called for Israeli withdrawal, establishment of peace. |
| Aug-Sept 1967 | Khartoum Conference - Arab summit says no to peace or negotiations with Israel. |
| Oct 21, 1967 | Egyptian missile ship sinks the Israeli destroyer Eilath. Israel retaliates by heavy artillery bombardment of Suez refinery complex. |
| March 21, 1968 | Battle of Karameh - Jordanian and Palestinian forces inflicted a partial defeat on Israel troops staging a massive retaliatory raid on a Jordanian town that had served as a staging area for guerilla attacks and a base for PLO/Fatah guerillas.. The Fatah declared a great victory and retreated into the hills. The anniversary of Karameh is still celebrated as a victory by Palestinians. |
| Jun 1968 | Escalation along the Suez Canal. Egyptians violated the cease fire repeatedly along the Suez canal. Nasser stated as strategy that Egypt can suffer numerous casualties because of manpower reserves, while Israel cannot. |
| Dec 1968 | PFLP attack on El Al plane in Athens. One Israeli killed; Israel responds on Dec 28 with helicopter raid on Beirut International Airport. Commandos destroy 13 Arab planes and damage airport. SCR262 of 31Dec unanimously censures Israel, |
| Feb 1-4, 1969 | Fifth Palestine National Council (PNC) in Cairo. Fatah gains formal control with ‘Arafat declared chair of Executive Committee. PNC statement sets goal of a "secular democratic state" society for Muslims, Christians & Jews. |
| Feb 18, 1969 | PFLP attack El Al plane in Zurich; strong international condemnation. |
| Feb 20, 1969 | PFLP bomb attacks on a Jerusalem supermarket |
| Feb 24, 1969 | Israeli airstrike against 2 al-Fatah camps near Damascus; large no of casualties. Fatah moves to strengthen its position in Jordan; PFLP becomes more explicit in its call for the overthrow of King Hussein, seen as a Western puppet. |
| Feb 1969 | Internal struggles in Syrian Ba‘th party: Hafez al-Assad, defense minister, takes full control over military in Syria; civilian institutions left under the control of President Atasi. Former stressed pan-Arab cooperation, especially with Egypt; latter rejected cooperation with the conservative regimes, & controlled the Sa‘iqa fida’i organization. |
| Mar 11 1969 | Golda Meir becomes Prime Minister in Israel after death of Levi Eshkol. |
| Aug 29, 1969 | Group commanded by Layla Khalid hijacks TWA plane flying to Tel Aviv. |
| March 1969 | Hostilities along the Suez canal. between Israel and Egypt escalate as Soviets supply SAM-2 radar and pilots, US supplies Israel with Phantom jets and Hawk missiles. |
|
April, 23, 1969 |
War of attrition between Israel and Egypt - Nasser formally declares that he is no longer bound by the terms of the armistice. Constant artillery and air duels around the Suez canal, as well as IAF bombardment of Egyptian targets. US agreed with Israeli reports that Nasser was violating the cease fire agreement and preparing for another war. |
| July 1970 | War of attrition terminated by a cease fire, July 1970, following pressure from USA and USSR on both sides. |
| Sept. 1970 | "Black September"- King Hussein of Jordan moves against the increasingly menacing power of the PLO. Palestinian guerillas flee Jordan and take up residence in Lebanon. |
| Sept 6, 1970 | PFLP hijack Swissair, BOAC, PanAm and TWA flights and divert them to Jordan. 310 passengers are held hostage and released after governments agree to release Palestinian prisoners. In the wake of the hijackings Lufthansa reportedly paid protection money to guerilla movements, and France purchased immunity for Air France by agreeing to maintain an anti-Israel policy. |
| Sept 28 1970 | Nasser dies of cardiac arrest after negotiating Jordan-Palestinian truce; Anwar al-Sadat comes to power in Egypt. |
| May 30, 1972 | PFLP and Japanese Red Army attack at Lod Airport killed 27. |
| Sept 5, 1972 | Black September movement massacres Israeli Olympic team in Munich, triggering a systematic manhunt by Israelis for the assassins. |
| 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. Ariel Sharon crossed the Suez Canal and cut off the Egyptian Third Army. |
| Oct. 22, 1973 | UN Security Council Resolution 338 called for cease fire and negotiations for peace. Following the cease fire, Israel withdrew from part of Sinai in stages, beginning with relief of the Egyptian third army, and likewise withdrew from a small part of the Golan heights. |
| Dec - 21-29 1973 | Middle East Peace Conference convened in Geneva, with Jordan, Egypt, SU, US & Israel attending (Syria refused). First objective is the disengagement of forces. |
| Jan 18 1974 | Egypt-Israel Separation of Forces Agreement (Sinai I), opposed by Syria. UN Emergency Force takes up positions in the buffer zones established in Sinai; fully deployed by Mar. 3. |
| April 10, 1974 | Golda Meir resigns as PM of Israel following popular protest over the Yom Kippur War. Yitzhak Rabin, former Chief of Staff of IDF and ambassador to US takes her place. |
| April 11 1974 | Kiriat Shmona Massacre - PFLP-GC takes dozens of teenagers hostage in Qiryat Shmona, Israel, to demand the release of prisoners. IDF storms the building, but terrorists kill 19. Israeli reprisal raids on Southern Lebanon condemned by UN Security Council in SCR347 on April 24. |
| May 15, 1974 | Ma'alot Massacre - PLO (PDFLP) gunmen took over a school in the northern Israeli village of Ma’alot, demand release of prisoners, killing 25 and wounding many others. |
| May 31, 1974 | Syria-Israel disengagement agreement over the Golan, with Syria accepting SCR 338 (& thus 242) as a basis for peace, & Israel partially withdrawing to establish a demilitarzed zone, with UN Disengagement Observer Force separating parties. Israel withdrew from Quneitra on 26 June, but Syria did not rebuild or repopulate the town. |
| June 1974 | Twelfth Palestine National Council resolves that “the PLO will struggle by every means ... to liberate Palestinian land & establish the people’s national, independent ad fighting authority on every part of Palestinian land to be liberated." Israelis interpret this as staged liberation of Palestine. However, this was also widely portrayed later as meaning that a State in part of Palestine was acceptable to the PLO, eventually causing PFLP (George Habash) to leave the PLO on Sept. 26, forming the "refusal front." PFLP rejoined the PLO in 1980. |
| Oct 29, 1974 | Rabat Summit - Arab League summit in Rabat declares that the PLO is the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. This makes it more difficult for Israel to conclude a peace treaty with Jordan on the basis of return of the West Bank. Hussein declares that he is no longer empowered to act for the Palestinians, and prevents possibility of negotiation with local Palestinians. |
| Nov 13 1974 | Arafat speaks at UN General Assembly debate on Palestine, on invitation of Oct 14 (GAR3210; vote: 105-4), with his pistol showing. UNGA recognizes Palestinians’ right to sovereignty (GAR3236) and grants PLO observer status (GAR3237; 22Nov). |
| November 1975 | UN Resolution 3379 equates Zionism with racism. |
| May 31, 1976 | Syria is invited into Lebanon by Maronite Christians. |
| June-July 1976 | Palestinians hijacked an Air-France Air bus to Entebbe in Uganda. IDF commando units landed in Uganda, storm the plane and free most of the hostages. |
| June 20, 1977 | Likud party and Begin government took office in Israel. Israeli settlement of the West Bank and Gaza was intensified following the rise of the Likud to power. |
| Nov. 20, 1977 | Egyptian President Anwar Sadat came to Jerusalem, spoke in Israeli Knesset (Parliament). |
| Mar. 15, 1978 | Israel invaded Lebanon (operation Litani) after the PLO hijacked a bus on the main Tel-Aviv to Haifa highway. UN resolution 425 of March 19, 1978 called for withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel did not fulfill the terms of Resolution 425 until May 2000. |
| Sept. 17, 1978 | Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli PM Menachem Begin, meeting at Camp David under the auspices of US President Jimmy Carter, sign framework agreements for peace in the Middle East and peace between Egypt and Israel. |
| 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. |
| April 29, 1982 | Israel completes return of Sinai to Egypt under the peace agreement, including Yamit settlement. |
| June 3, 1982 | Attempted assassination of Israeli Ambassador Shlomo Argov in London apparently by Abu Nidal faction, backed by Iraq. Large scale bombings by Israel in Lebanon especially on W.Beirut (4Jun). PLO send First rockets at towns in N Israel since Jul 81. |
| June 6, 1982 | Massive Israeli invasion of Lebanon to fight PLO. . UN Security Council Resolution 509 demands that Israel withdraw all its military forces forthwith, but Israel advances rapidly to Beirut, surrounding the capital by 13 Jun. Israeli cabinet is split on the sudden expansion of the war, beyond the 40 KM limit originally declared by Sharon. |
| June 9, 1982 | Syrian Soviet SAM radar destroyed by Israel, Israeli-Syrian armor engagements. |
| Summer, 1982 | Foundation of the Lebanese Shi’ite Hizbulla Islamist terror group. |
| Aug. 22, 1982 | PLO evacuation of Beirut. About 14,000 leave. PLO headquarters in Tunis. Evacuation complete Sept 1. |
| Aug 23, 1982 | Bashir Jemayeel made President of Lebanon. |
| Sept. 14, 1982 | Lebanese President-elect Bashir Gemayeel assassinated, by explosion of a bomb operated by Habib Tanious Shartouni, apparently an agent of Syrian intelligence. Amin Gemayeel, his brother was elected instead, Sept 21. |
| Sept. 15, 1982 | Israeli invasion of West Beirut |
| Sept. 16-17, 1982 | Lebanese Christian Phalange units under Elie Hobeika, allowed by Israeli forces to enter the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatilla, massacre between 400 and 800 Palestinian civilians. Israel Gen. Yaron and others overheard incriminating conversations between Phalange officers but no action was taken by Israel to stop the massacre. |
| 24 Sept, 1982 | Peace Now movement holds record demonstration in Israel (~300,000), demanding end to war, commission of inquiry for Sabra and Shatilla |
| Nov 11, 1982 | Israeli military headquarters in Tyre destroyed in an explosion, killing 75 Israelis and 16 of their prisoners. |
| Feb 8, 1983 | Israeli Kahan commission found Ariel Sharon and others indirectly responsible for allowing the massacre in Sabra and Shatilla. |
| April 18, 1983 | Hizbulla suicide bomber destroyed the American Embassy in Beirut, killing over 60 people. |
| May 17, 1983 | Israel and Lebanon conclude an abortive non-belligerency agreement. |
| Sept.3, 1983 | Israel began partial withdrawal from Lebanon. |
| Oct. 23, 1983 | Hizbulla suicide bomber destroyed the US Marine compound in Beirut, killing 241. |
| Sept. 20, 1984 | Hizbulla suicide bomber destroyed the rebuilt American Embassy in Beirut, killing 25. |
| June 1985 | Israel unity government, headed by Shimon Peres, orders withdrawal from most of conquered Lebanese territory. |
| Dec 8, 1987 | First Intifadeh - Stone-throwing Palestinian teens led by local groups took on the Israeli occupation, attacking Israeli soldiers relentlessly. The triggering incident may have been the death of four Palestinian workers in a road accident with an Israeli vehicle. |
| Jan. 1988 | Foundation of the Hamas Islamic Brotherhood. Hamas published their Charter in August 1988, based on the forged Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and advocating destruction of Israel. |
| Nov. 15, 1988 | Palestine National Council of the PLO declare a Palestinian state in absentia - See Palestinian Declaration of Independence |
| May 14, 1989 | Israeli Peace Plan of May 14, 1989, calls for a negotiating process with the Palestinians very similar to the one actually implemented by the Oslo accords. |
| Nov. 1989 | The Taif Accords, 1989 - were concluded to settle the Lebanese civil war and legitimize the Syrian occupation. |
| August 1990 | Iraq invades and conquers Kuwait. |
| January, 1991 | "Operation Desert Storm" (called "Gulf War" in US). Iraqi missiles fall on Israel as US pushes Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. Palestinians support Saddam Hussein, lose popularity in Gulf states. |
| May 20, 1991 | Syrian-Lebanese Cooperation Agreement is signed. |
| Oct 30, 1991 | Madrid Peace Conference for peaceful resolution of the Middle East Conflict. |
| June 23, 1992 | Labor party leader and former General Yitzhak Rabin, elected Prime Minister of Israel |
| Sept. 13, 1993 | Oslo Declaration of Principles - Israel and PLO agree to mutual recognition, Yasser Arafat and PLO will be allowed to return to Gaza. PLO and Palestinian leadership renounce violence and use of terrorism, and agree to revise the PLO charter to remove chapters referring to destruction of Israel. Over the next, years, Israel withdraws from a small area (Area A) that is given to Palestinian sovereignty, a larger area (Area B) is given to Palestinian civil control only, while a third area of the West Bank and Gaza strip remains under total Israeli control. Israel does not dismantle any settlements, and the number of settlers and new settlements increases considerably. |
| Feb 25, 1994 | Settler Baruch Goldstein opens fire on Muslims praying in the Tomb of Abraham mosque in Hebron, killing 30. This massacre formed the excuse for numerous terrorist acts by Hamas and other groups. Following the bombing, the Israel government placed restrictions on Hebron's Arab population and closed the Tomb to visitors for a an extended period. Goldstein's grave became a shrine for right-wing settlers. The shrine was dismantled by the Israeli government in 2,000. |
| April, 1994 | Hamas carries out suicide bombings in Israeli towns of Afula and Hadera, killing 13, wounding 80. |
| May 1994 | Yasser Arafat arrives in Gaza. |
| Oct 19, 1994 | Hamas suicide bombing on a Tel Aviv bus kills 22, wounds 40. |
| July 24, 1994 | Hamas suicide bomber blows up a Dan bus in Tel Aviv. |
| Oct. 26, 1994 | Peace treaty between Jordan and Israel. |
| Nov. 4, 1995 | Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin assassinated by right-wing Israeli fanatic Yigal Amir. |
| Jan 5, 1996 | Israeli security service assassinates Palestinian terrorist Yihyeh Ayash, 'The Engineer," responsible for the death of over 60 Israelis. Ayash was lionized by Palestinians as a martyr and the PNA named a square after him in Jericho. |
| Feb. 25, 1996 | Hamas suicide bomber blows up a No. 18 bus near Jerusalem's central bus station, killing 26 people and wounding 48 others. Less than an hour later, a second Hamas suicide bomb explodes at a soldiers' hitchhiking station near Ashkelon, killing one and injuring 31 others. The two attacks are said to be in retaliation for the slaying in Gaza of Yehiya Ayash. |
| March 3, 1996 | A Hamas suicide bomber blows up a bus on Jerusalem's Jaffa Road, killing 19 people and leaving at least 9 wounded. The attack takes place on the same No. 18 bus line and almost at the same time as the previous week's attack. |
| March 4, 1996 | Dizengoff Center Bombing - A suicide bomb is detonated in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Center, killing 13, including children, and wounding at least 130 on the eve of Purim (anniversary of Goldstein massacre). Hamas claims responsibility. |
| June, 1996 | Right-Wing Likud leader Benjamin Nethanyahu 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 |
| March 21, 1997 | Cafe Apropos Bombing - A Hamas suicide bomber detonates an explosion at the Cafe Apropos in central Tel Aviv, killing 3 Israelis and wounding 47 others. |
| July 30, 1997 | Two suicide bombers strike in the Mahane Yehuda open-air market in Jerusalem, claiming at least 12 victims and wounding at least 150 others. Hamas and Islamic Jihad claim responsibility. |
| Sept, 1997 | Israeli agents bungled an attempt to kill Hamas terrorist leader Khald Mashaal in Jordan (Sept 26). To placate Jordanian public opinion, Israel subsequently released Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin from jail. |
| 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. |
| May 2000 | Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon to international border is completed after many years of harassment by Hizbullah guerillas. UN declares Israel is compliant with Resolution 425, but the Hizbullah continues to harass Israeli positions, kidnapping three Israeli soldiers later in the summer. |
| July, 2000 | Israeli PM Barak, US President Clinton and Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat meet at Camp David in a failed attempt to hammer out a final settlement. |
| 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. Violence was apparently encouraged by Fatah Tanzim, as admitted by Marwan Barghouti. Violence escalated rapidly from rock throwing to machine gun and mortar fire, suicide bombings and lethal road ambushes, including some incidents instigated by settlers against Palestinians. Israelis killed 15 Israeli Arabs in riots in September/October 2000, and over 2,000 Palestinians in retaliatory raids thereafter. Palestinians kill over 700 Israelis. Violence continues for over a year [to present - March 2003]. |
| Dec, 2000 | Talks begun at Taba continuing to January 2001 in different venues, end inconclusively. |
| Feb 6, 2001 | Right-wing Likud leader Ariel Sharon elected Prime Minister in Israel replacing Ehud Barak and promising "peace and security." |
| April, 2001 | Mitchell commission recommendations for restoration of peace, return to the negotiating table. |
| June 1, 2001 | Dolphinarium Discotheque in Tel Aviv hit by suicide bomb, killing 20, including many teenagers. Islamic Jihad and Palestine Hizbulla both claim the bombing. |
| August 9, 2001 | Sbarro pizzeria suicide bombing in Jerusalem by Islamic Jihad movement kills 15, wounds 130. |
| Aug 27. 2001 | Israel assassinates Abu Ali Mustafa, Secretary General of the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) |
| Sept. 11, 2001 | Terror attacks on World Trade Center in NYC and the Pentagon carried out by fanatic Islamic Al-Qaeda group headed by Osama Bin Laden. Initiates US war on terror. Israel and Palestinians agree to cease fire, but it is not implemented. |
| Oct., 17, 2001 | Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine assassinates Israeli tourism minister Rehav’am Ze’evi, known for extreme right-wing views, in retaliation for killing of Abu Ali Mustafa. After Palestine National Authority refuses to take effective action, Israeli troops enter Palestinian areas in the West Bank |
| Jan 3, 2002 | Israel captures Karine-A carrying a boatload of illegal arms bound for Palestinian Authority as US envoy Anthony Zinni arrives to try to mediate a settlement. |
| March 2002 | Midst mounting violence, Saudi Prince Abdullah announces a peace plan, according to which Israel would withdraw from the occupied territories in return for Arab recognition. |
| March-April 2002 | In retaliation for a series of suicide bombings, Israel mounts operation "Defensive Wall" in the West Bank, arrests Palestinian leaders and particularly Marwan Barghouti, imprisoning PNA Chairman Arafat in the "Mukata" compound in Ramalah and besieges militants in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. During the operation, about 50 people, including at least some civilians, were killed in the Jenin refugee camp, prompting charges of a massacre by Palestinians. A proposed UN investigation of the alleged massacres is abandoned after Israel refuses to cooperate. From objective reports, it appears that about 22 noncombatant civilians were killed in Jenin, either wrongfully and intentionally by Israeli troops, or when bulldozers crushed houses in the belief they were empty, or when booby-trapped houses exploded and fell in on their occupants. |
| May 2002 | End of sieges in Mukata; Church of Nativity. Militants in church of nativity exiled abroad. Wanted men in Mukata jailed in Jericho. Head of PFLP allegedly coordinated a suicide attack from his cell in Jericho. |
| May 30, 2002 | PNA Chairman Arafat, under pressure for reform, signs the 2002: PNA Basic Law that was passed several years ago by the PLC. |
| June 24, 2002 | Controversial speech by US President Bush calls for Israeli withdrawal and Palestinian state, but insists the PNA must first be reformed and current leaders replaced. Israel moves to reoccupy the entire West Bank, with the exception of Jericho. |
| July 23 2002 | Israel assassinates Saleh Shehadeh, head of Hamas Izzeldin-El Kassam armed brigades responsible for numerous terror attacks. |
| Aug 16(?), 2002 | Sabri Banna (Abu Nidal), head of the Fatah Revolutionary Council is rumored dead by assassination or suicide in Baghdad (Death is later confirmed - apparently assassinated by Iraqi secret police). |
|
Oct, 2002 |
Libya withdraws from Arab League. |
| Nov 3, 2002 | Israel government unstable as resignations of Labor party ministers become official. |
| Jan, 2003 | Cairo conference of Palestinian groups, first in 20 years. Conference fails to agree on cease fire offer to Israel. Islamist movements say PLO no longer represents the Palestinian people. |
| Jan 5, 2003 | Double suicide bombing in Tel Aviv kills 23, prompting increased action of IDF against Hamas. |
| Jan 28, 2003 | Elections in Israel give wide margin (40 seats) to right wing Likud party, returning PM Ariel Sharon for another term. |
| Feb, 2003 | Israel initiates a series of incursions in the Gaza strip and Nablus with numerous civilian casualties beginning at the end of February. |
| Mar 5, 2003 | Hamas suicide bombing of Haifa bus kills 17. Qassam rocket fire from Gaza on Sderot brings Israeli reoccupation of parts of Gaza around Jebalya refugee camp. |
| March 6, 2003 | Kassam rocket fire from Gaza on Sderot brings Israeli reoccupation of parts of Gaza around Jebalya refugee camp. |
| March 7, 2003 | UNMOVIC chief Hans Blix reports to UN on Iraqi disarmament progress. |
| March 10, 2003 | Central Council of the PLO meets in Ramalla and approves Chairman Arafat's proposal to nominate a Prime Minister. His nominee, Abu Mazen is also approved. The Council also condemns violence against all civilians. The appointment of a PM is due to Israeli and US pressure to reform the PNA and provide leadership other than Arafat, who is considered untrustworthy. |
| March 19,2003 | US begins invasion of Iraq by a strike against a building where Saddam Hussein and other leaders are meeting. |
| April 9, 2003 | Fall of Baghdad. |
| April 24, 2003 | Bowing to international pressure, Yasser Arafat allows the nomination of Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) as new Palestinian PM. The Quartet (US, Britain, Russia and Spain) hope that he will institute reforms. Israeli government backs Abu-Mazen, promises concessions. |
| April 29, 2003 | Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) elected PM & vows reform, but Arafat maneuvers to retain control. Violence continues. US released updated road map on April 30 |
| June 4 | Aqaba Summit - Abu Mazen and Ariel Sharon vow to stop violence, end occupation according to the road map. Hamas and Islamic Jihad vow to continue violence. Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad joined in killing four Israeli soldiers in Gaza (June 8) despite the call to end violence from Fatah leaders. |
| June 10-11 | Failed Israeli assassination attempt on Hamas leader Ahmed Rantissi (June 10) and Hamas suicide attack that kills 15 in Jerusalem (June 11) jeopardize the future of the road map. |
| August 20 | Hamas suicide bombing in a Jerusalem bus claims 21 lives |
| August 21 | Israel, vowing that all Hamas leaders were now targets, assassinates Hamas leader Ismail Abu Shanab. Others killed in widespread operations in the West bank; Arafat moves to replace Abbas appointee Mohamed Dahlan as security chief in Gaza and to weaken Abbas. |
| Sept 6 | Mahmud Abbas resigns; Failed Israeli assassination attempt on Hamas "spiritual leader" Ahmed Yassin, who is aged and crippled. |
| Sept 8 | Yasser Arafat and Fatah/PLO name Ahmed Queia ("Abu Ala") as PM to replace Mahmud Abbas. |
| Sept 10 | Twin suicide bombings kill 15 in Israel; Israel moves against against buildings surrounding Yasser Arafat's Mukata compound on the following day. US official Condoleeza Rice insists that the Road Map is "still on the table." |
| Oct 4 | Palestinian Islam Jihad Suicide bomber kills 20 in Arab-Jewish owned Haifa restaurant. |
| Oct 5 | Israeli jets strike a camp in Syria allegedly used for training Palestinian terrorists. The strike gets US approval. |
| Oct 9 | Palestinian PM designate Ahmed Qurei submits his resignation to Chairman Yasser Arafat because of differences of opinion regarding the mandate and composition of his government's cabinet. Increasing rumors of Arafat's illness attributed variously to cardiac problems or stomach cancer. |
| Nov 12 | Palestinian PM Ahmed Qurei forms a government after a long period of negotiations, pledging to end terror and chaos in the Palestine Authority |
| Nov 19 | Un Security Council passes resolution 1515 in support of the roadmap for peace. |
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