Concise Timeline 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.
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.
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.
1967 Six Day War Timeline (chronology)
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.
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.
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. Start of Second
Intifada See Second Intifada
TimelineSecond Intifada
Feb 6, 2001
Right-wing Likud leader
Ariel Sharon elected Prime Minister in Israel replacing Ehud Barak and promising "peace and
security."
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.
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.
See detailed timeline below
Current Commentary
Detailed Timeline
1300? BCE
Migration and conquest of Canaan by the
Philistines and Israelite tribes. Map of Canaan.
Fall of Judea (Southern Kingdom) to Babylon and destruction of
the first temple.
About 539 BCE
Fall of Babylon. Jews allowed to return to Judea.
Tradition has it that Ezra and Nehemia led this return, and later rebuilt
the walls of Jerusalem, but the walls were apparently not built until 100 years later.
About 519 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.
313 BCE
Ptolemy of Egypt rules Jerusalem and Judea.
170 BCE
Antiochus Ephiphanes rules Judea.
166 BCE
Revolt of Judah Maccabee against Syrian Hellenic dynasty; Simon. 164 - Liberation
of Jerusalem. Judah is named Friend of the Roman Senate and People; Rule of the Maccabees: 166 - Judah 160 -Jonathan 143
Arab conquest of Jerusalem.
(slightly earlier or later according to different sources). Caliph
Omar provides the Christians of Jerusalem with the
Covenant of Umar guaranteeing their protection. Land divided into the Jund of
filastin, in the south (capital in Al-Lod and later in Ramlah), and the Jund of Urdun in the north, with capital
in Tiberias (Tabariyeh).
641
Arab conquest of Egypt.
705
Dome of the Rock (Omar) is completed by Caliph Abd’ al
Malik ibn Marwan who rules from Jerusalem.
715
The
Al-Aqsa Mosque is completed by the Caliph
Walid.
717
Caliph Suleiman builds Ramlah
750
Rise of the Abbasids in Baghdad, full of the Umayyad dynasty in
Damascus.
969
Fatimid conquest. Churches and synagogues of Jerusalem
destroyed.
1071
Battle of Manzikert. The Byzantine emperor Romanus IV
Diogenes is defeated by the
Seljuk Turks, opening Asia Minor to Turkish invasion.
Seljuks devastate Jerusalem.
1099
Crusaders conquer Jerusalem, slaughter most Jewish and Moslem
inhabitants, expel Jews.
Muslim walls built around Jerusalem by Suleiman
the Magnificent.
1799
Napoleon conquers Jaffa but retreats before Acco (Acre,
Akka); Napoleon's Proclamation of a Jewish State was stillborn, and his declaration of equal rights for Jews was repealed
in part in 1806.
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.
1844
First census in Jerusalem shows 7120 Jews, 5760 Muslims, 3390
Christians.
1856
Ottoman reforms (Tanzimat) - including requirement to register
ownership of land and pay taxes on it.
1860
First Jewish settlement (Mishkenot Sha'ananim) outside
Jerusalem walls.
Beginnings of Zionist socialist movements.
First Congress of
Poalei Tziyon
in Poltava, under the leadership of Ber Borochov.
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.
June 15, 1914
Anglo French agreement on Baghdad railroad and Mesopotamia.
Aug 1914
Start of WW I
Nov 1914
Allies at war with Turkey
Dec 17
British protectorate in Egypt; Prince Husein Kemal becomes
Khedive.
April 25, 1915
Anglo-French landing at Gallipoli
July 1915
Husayn-McMahon
Correspondence - Britain promises independence for Arabia.
Jan 6-8 1916
Allies evacuate Gallipoli.
Apr 29, 1916
British surrender to Turks at Kut, in Mesopotamia.
May 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 October or November 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.
Jan 1, 1917
Britain , France and Italy recognize Husayn as king of the
Hejaz.
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.
British and Arabs occupy Damascus, French
occupy Beirut and Alexandretta
Nov 1918
First Muslim-Christian
association formed in Jaffa to oppose the creation of a Jewish homeland. Another was formed in Jerusalem soon after.
Armistice between Allies and Germany, Nov 11.
Jan. 1919
First Palestinian Congress advocated
incorporation of Palestine into greater Syria.
Jan 18, 1919
Paris Peace Conference opens - results in Treaty of Versailles,
June 28, 1919.
March 1919
Widespread national revolt begins
in Egypt against British rule after nationalist leaders were arrested and Zaghloul Pasha was exiled. The Wafd party is
created.
May 19 1919
Mustafa Kemal Ataturklands 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. Allies occupy Constantinople.
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.
Apr 25, 1920
San Remo Conference - Supreme Allied Council assigns mandates
for Mesopotamia and Palestine to Britain, and Syria and Lebanon to France.
Herbert Samuel named High Commissioner of
Palestine. King Faisal recognizes French Mandate. French forces under Gourand retake Damascus by force with British
support. Britain arrests Palestinian notables who had supported Faysal.
Dec 1920
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
Hajj Amin
Al 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.
Nov 1, 1922
Mustapha Kemal proclaims Turkish Republic
May 25, 1923
Proclamation of Transjordanian Independence under Emir Abdullah
May 29, 1923
Palestine constitution suspended by British after Arabs refuse
to participate in the government.
July 24, 1923
Lausanne Peace Treaty signed by Greece, Turkey and the Allies.
Sept 29, 1923
Palestine Mandate officially comes into force.
Feb 19, 1924
Shah Ahmed deposed in Persia; Reza Khan Appointed Regent
Nov 20, 1924
Egyptian troops withdrawn from Sudan under British ultimatum,
after the assassination of Sir Lee Stack.
1925
Official inauguration of the Hebrew University
in Jerusalem.
July 20, 1925
Druze uprising in Syria, continues until June, 1927.
Oct 12, 1925
Syrian uprising against the French Mandate.
Jan 8, 1926
Ibn Saud becomes king of the Hejaz, now called Saudi Arabia.
May 23, 1926
France proclaims Republic of Lebanon.
May 20, 1927
Britain recognizes Saudi independence.
Dec. 14, 1927
Britain recognizes Iraqi independence (subject to treaty
provisions) and continuing mandate.
Feb. 20, 1928
Britain recognizes Transjordanian independence
(subject to treaty provisions).
July 5, 1928
Sir John Chancellor becomes High Commissioner in Palestine.
July 19, 1928
King Fuad dissolves Egyptian parliament, suspends freedom of the
press.
August, 1929
Arab Riots and Massacres 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 Hajj
Amin al-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.
King Feisal of Iraq dies, succeeded by his son Ghazi.
May-June 1934
War between Saudi Arabia an Yemen.
Nov. 2, 1934
Syrian Parliament suspended indefinitely.
Nov. 30, 1934
Egyptian Constitution of 1930 suspended.
Jan. 14,1935
Iraq-Mediterranean oil pipeline opened.
April, 1936
Farouk succeeds Fuad I as King of Egypt; Arab Higher Committee
formed in Palestine.
1936-1939
Arab Revolt led or coopted by the Al-Husseini
family and Fawzi al-Kaukji and financed by Axis powers. Over 5,000 Arabs were killed according to some sources; most
were killed by other Arabs and by British.Orde Wingate
forms "night squads" for Jewish self-defense. Several hundred Jews were killed by Arabs. Husseini fled to Iraq and then to
Nazi Germany.
Aug. 26, 1936
Anglo-Egyptian treaty ends military occupation of Egypt except
in the Suez Canal zone.
Oct, 29, 1936
General Sidqi Bakr seizes power in Iraq.
1937-1938
Peel and Woodhead
commissions recommend partitioning Palestine into a small Jewish state and a large Arab one.
Aug. 11, 1937
Assassination of General Sidqi Bakr, Iraqi dictator.
Oct. 1, 1937
British declare Higher Committee in Palestine an illegal body.
Oct. 16, 1937
Following assassination of British District Officer
for Northern Palestine, Hajj Amin El-Husseini Mufti of Jerusalem escapes to Syria and
thence to Iraq.
Jan.-Mar. 1939
Round-table conference on Palestine in London, with Arab
countries, Zionists and Palestinian representatives.
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. Jews found the Mossad to arrange for illegal immigration.
Sept. 3, 1939
Britain and France declare war on Germany
Nov 25, 1940
The Jewish illegal immigrant ship Patria
(also
called Patra) carrying refugees from Europe, detained in Haifa by the British, is blown up by the Jewish underground
Hagana to prevent transshipment of the refugees to Mauritius. The explosion was supposed to cause a small leak. Instead,
the ship sank and 252 people died.
Apr. 1, 1941
Agitation by exiled Palestinian Mufti
Hajj Amin al Husseini leads to coup. Pro-Axis Government under Rashid Ali in Iraq.
May -June, 1941
British reoccupy Habbanieh and Baghdad, Rashid Ali and pro-Axis leaders flee
to Teheran and Berlin; After the revolt is suppressed, a pogrom against the Jews (Farhoud) takes place in Baghdad, while
British troops stand by and refuse to intervene. (Click for details of Iraq Axis coup, Mufti, British Intervention and
the Farhud)
June, 1941
Free French and Australians occupy Syria and Lebanon; Britain
and France guarantee Syrian independence.
Feb. 1942
British force the appointment of Nahas Pasha, a British ally,
as Egyptian PM.
Feb. 24, 1942
The Jewish illegal immigrant ship Struma, forced to sail north
from Turkey, is torpedoed by a Soviet submarine (either collaborating with British or because the ship was mistaken for
German shipping) and sunk with the loss of
428 men, 269 women and 70
children.
Oct. 1942
Battle of El Alamein. British under General Montgomery defeat
Rommel's Afrika Korps and end the Nazi threat on Egypt.
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 recommended an end to the British Mandate and
demand Jewish control over immigration to Palestine with the aim of founding a Jewish "Commonwealth."
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.
Haj Amin El Husseini, Mufti of Jerusalem, escapes from
detention in France aided by French collaborators. Husseini was to have been deported to Germany and tried for war
crimes after spending the war working for the Nazis in Germany.
July 22, 1946
Irgun Jewish underground blows up British HQ in King David
Hotel, Jerusalem, killing 91 persons.
Aug, 1946
British start deporting illegal Jewish immigrants to detention camps in
Cyprus.
Sept, 1946
Palestine round-table conference opens in London.
Dec. 1946
Nokrashy Pasha, new Egyptian PM, repudiates Anglo-Egyptian
treaty.
Feb. 1947
Britain refers Palestine issue to the UN.
May, 1947
UN General Assembly appoints UN Special Committee on Palestine
(UNSCOP).
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 caused the British to intern
illegal immigrants thereafter in Cyprus, rather than attempting to return them to Europe.
UN Partition Resolution (GA
181) - Palestine was to be divided into a Jewish State and an Arab State; Jerusalem was to be internationalized. The
resolution is supported by both the US and USSR. 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. In December, the Irgun began the first of its bombings in Arab Jerusalem.
Beginning of the first phase of the
Israel War of Independence (First
Arab-Israeli War).
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, including a large number of 25 pounder cannon at the beginning of 1948.
Hagannah 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 when Czech Avia S-199 (version of the Messerschmitt 210) (and later
other aircraft including B-17s) purchased clandestinely were brought
into the country. Irgun bombed the Jaffa city hall January 4. It had been used as a center for organizing attacks on Tel
Aviv.
January 16, 1948
Jewish convoy to
Gush Etzion intercepted, fighters killed, and bodies mutilated.
Feb. 1948
Anti-British riots in Baghdad against new
British-Iraq treaty bring down pro-British government.
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
Hadassah 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 Haganah at conclusion of
Operation Nachshon, does not succeed in opening the road to Jerusalem.
April 1948
Arab flight from Haifa continues; Arab flight from Jaffa.
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 12, 1948
Haganah captures Tsfat (Safed). Arab population flees the city
before it is captured.
May 13, 1948
Jaffa surrenders to Haganah.
May 13, 1948
Kfar Etzion Massacre
- In retaliation for Deir Yassin Massacre, Arabs killed about 128 Jewish defenders at Kfar Etzion, after they had
surrendered.
May 14, 1948
Remaining kibbutzim of Gush Etzion surrender.
British High Commissioner Cunningham leaves Palestine. State of Israel declared on Friday May 14, in advance of the
Sabbath. recognized immediately by USA and on May 17 by USSR.
Haganah captures Acco (Acre). Most of the Arab population flees
the city before it is captured.
May 18, 1948
Syrian army captures Massada and Merom Hagolan.
May 19-24, 1948
Battle of Yad Mordechai
- Kibbutz falls after five days of fighting superior Egyptian regular army forces.
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. The arms shipment 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
Menachem 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.
Yitzhak 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.
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 Operation (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 Rafah. The bombing of Cairo put an end to Egyptian air-raids on Tel Aviv.
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 in Israel-Arab war.
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. The latter proposal was adopted in UN General Assembly Resolution 194. ( see
Bernadotte Plan with mapSecond plan of Count
Bernadotte for settlement of the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 )
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 his 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 ). Beersheva is taken. In the north, operation Hiram
defeats the Arab Liberation army.
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. 1948
Israelis advance into Egypt; Nokrashy Pasha,
Egyptian PM, assassinated.
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. This marks the end of actual hostilities.
Feb-Jun, 1949
Israel and Arab states agree to armistice in
separate agreements. Israel-EgyptIsrael -LebanonIsrael-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 20, 1949
King Farouk of Egypt and PM Za'im of Syria agree on a common
front against Iraq.
De Jure British recognition to Israel and Greater Jordan
(including West Bank).
May 1950
Tripartite Declaration of USA, Britain and France - Middle East
security and stability are a common interest.
May 2, 1951
Mossadegh, PM of Iran, nationalizes oil industry.
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 by Gen. Muhammad Najib (who was not involved in the coup's planning),
though they were organized by his deputy
Gamal Abdel Nasser. King Faruq
was forced to abdicate on July 26 and is exiled. A new
governing authority, the Revolutionary Command Council, is established on July
27, 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 (June 1953) 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.
Aug 11, 1952
King Talal of Jordan abdicates in favor of Hussein, aged 17.
Sept 7, 1952
Najib becomes PM of Egypt.
Jan 16, 1953
Plot against Najib in Egypt; Rashid Mehanna arrested, political
parties dissolved; Najib proclaims 3 year transition period without elections,
Jam. 18, 1953
Beginning of anti-Zionist stance in USSR. Moscow accuses
"Zionist agents" of murdering Zhdanov and attempting to murder other Soviet leaders.
June 18, 1953
Egypt proclaimed a Republic with Najib as President.
July 12, 1953
Shishakly becomes President of Syria.
Sept. 7, 1954
Ben-Gurion resigns as Israeli PM, succeeded by Moshe Sharett.
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.
Feb. 25, 1954
Nasser deposes Najib in Egypt and assumes chairmanship of
junta. Najib regains authority 2 days later.
Feb. 27, 1954
Shishakly flees from Syria following army revolt.
April 18, 1954
Nasser ousts Najib and becomes PM of Egypt.
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.
Oct 19, 1954
Anglo-Egyptian evacuation agreement signed (troops guarding
canal to leave).
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.
Jan. 27, 1955
Military court in Cairo sentences 2 members of Israeli spy ring to death
They are executed Jan 27.
Feb, 1955
Pinhas Lavon resigns as Israel defense minister and is replaced by David
Ben-Gurion;
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, killed 38 Egyptians, 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.
Sept 27, 1955
Egyptian-Czech arms deal. Actually, the arms came from the
USSR. The "Czech" source was devised by Nasser as a cover up, so as not to alarm the Americans and British. A secret clause required Egypt to get
financing of the Aswan dam from the USSR.
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
aimed at the center
of Gaza City (April 4-5) 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
FM post.; Last British troops leave Suez Canal base on June 13.
July 26, 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. Britain, France and USA announce financial retaliation.
Aug. 16, 1956
London Conference on Suez Canal boycotted by Egypt.
Sept 10, 1956
Egypt rejects 18 nation proposals for Suez Canal.
Sept 19, 1956
Second London conference on Suez.
Sept. 23, 1956
Britain and France refer Suez dispute to UN Security Council.
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. Suez Canal reopned March 23, 1957.
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'ath 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.
July 14, 1958
Revolution in Iraq ousts and murders British clients, King
Feisal II and PM Nuri As-Said. Kassim becomes takes power.
July 15, 1958
US Marines land in Lebanon at the request of President Chamoun.
July 17, 1958
British paratroops land in Jordan to support Jordanian gov't
following Iraqi coup.
Oct. 23, 1958
Soviet loan to Egypt to finance Aswan Dam.
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.
1959(?)
Yasser
Arafat Khalil al Wazir and others found the Palestine
Liberation Committee, soon renamed "Fatah" (Conquest). The organization was to be modeled on the Algerian FLN.
1960
Israeli
Mossad
Agents capture Nazi war criminal Adolf
Eichmann in Argentina and abduct him to Israel. Eichmann had order the deaths of millions of Jews as well as Romany
people and other minorities.
1961
Eichmann trial is televised and seen around the
world. Eichmann was executed in June, 1962.
June 25, 1961
With Soviet support, Kassim declares Kuwait is part of Iraq.
Sept. 29, 1961
Syria secedes from union with Egypt.
Sept 27, 1962
Army coup in Yemen, Abdulla al-Sallal proclaimed PM. Nasser
announces support for revolution Sept. 29.
Nov. 5, 1962
Saudi Arabia severs relations with Egypt.
Feb 8, 1963
Baathist coup against Kassim in Iraq; Kassim executed on
television and approximately 10,000 alleged communist supporters killed.
March 8, 1963
Baathist coup against President Qudsi in Syria.
March 14, 1963
Egypt, Syria and Iraq open abortive unity talks in Cairo.
24 June, 1963
Ben-Gurion resigns as Israeli PM, because of his frustration at
being unable to get justice in the Lavon Affair.
Nov. 18, 1963
Abdul-Salem Aref takes power in Iraq, expels Baathist
government members and breaks military union with Syria.
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 and
Palestinian agitation against it. Arabs declare their intentions of 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 was 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
Six day
war.
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.
April 13, 1965
Iraq President Aref killed in helicopter crash - possibly
sabotage, and is succeeded by his brother, Abdul Rahman Aref.
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.
Jun 2, 1967
Moshe
Dayan joins Israeli cabinet as Minister of Defense. Unity
gov't formed.
June 5-10,1967
Six 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.
1967 Six Day War Timeline (chronology)
Aug-Sept 1967
Khartoum Conference - Arab summit
says no to peace or negotiations with Israel.
Sept. 4, 1967
50 Egyptian officers arrested, including Commander in Chief
Amer, on charges of plotting against Nasser. Amer later reported to have committed suicide
Egyptian missile ship sinks the Israeli destroyer Eilath.
Israel retaliates by heavy artillery bombardment of Suez refinery complex.
Nov 5., 1967
Pres. Sallal of Yemen Overthrown.
Nov. 30, 1967
People's Republic of Southern Yemen formed; last British troops
leave Aden.
Jan 16, 1968
Britain announces intention to withdraw from Persian Gulf by
1971.
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.
20-30 Jul, 1968
Baathist Gen Ahmed al-Bakr overthrows Aref Regime in Iraq. Rise
of Saddam Hussein.
21-30 Nov, 1968
Student riots in Egypt;
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,
Jan 6, 1969
French ban on arms supplies made public by Israel
Jan 27, 1969
Iraqis hang 14 (9 Jews) as Israeli spies.
Feb 1-4, 1969
Fifth Palestine National Council (PNC) in Cairo. Fatah gains
formal control with Yasser 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.
Aug. 21, 1969
Michael Dennis Rohan, a deranged Australian Christian, attempted to set fire
to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem in order to bring about the apocalypse. The attempt triggered widespread rioting in the occupied Palestinian territories and in Arab Muslim countries.
Palestinian sources routinely claim that Rohan was Jewish or Israeli.
