Teaching Geography: Workshops

1917

The area including Palestine had been ruled by the Ottoman Empire since 1517. With the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, Palestine came under British jurisdiction and became known as British-mandate Palestine. Britain had enlisted Arab support in a revolt against the Ottomans (lead by T.E. Lawrence) with the promise of supporting the establishment of an independent Arab state in the area. On November 2, the British Foreign Minister, Lord Arthur Balfour, issued a declaration (the Balfour Declaration) supporting a "Jewish national home in Palestine."

1921

The British divided the Arab land under their jurisdiction in two. The area east of the Jordan River became the Emirate of Transjordan. The area west of the Jordan remains the Palestine Mandate under British authority. This was the first time in modern history that Palestine became a unified political entity. Jews had been immigrating to the Holy Land near Jerusalem throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This immigration increased prior to World War II due to persecution of European Jews by the Nazis. The local Arab population wanted to limit the number of Jewish immigrants. This resulted in clashes between immigrants and local Palestinians who were supported by neighboring Arab states.

1947

On November 29, the United Nations approved a plan to partition the British Mandate of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. The Jews accepted the plan while Arabs and neighboring Arab states rejected it. The City of Jerusalem would be internationally administered.

1949

Israel signs armistice agreements with Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Jordan's annexation of Judea and Samaria, recognized only by Britain and Pakistan, is part of this armistice. Jerusalem is divided under Israel and Jordanian rule.

1948

On May 14, the day that the British Mandate over Palestine expired, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion signed a document declaring Israel's status as an independent state. Within 24 hours, Israel was invaded by Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, initiating Israel's war of independence. This war lasts 19 months. Up to 800,000 Palestinians fled their homes or were expelled during the war.

1967

Egypt concentrates troops in the Sinai Peninsula. Troops from Jordan and other Arab countries mass along Israel's borders. Israel responds to this military threat with a pre-emptive attack known as the Six Day War, lasting from June 5 to June 11. Israel destroys Egyptian air forces before they've left the ground and seizes the West Bank from Jordan, Golan Heights from Syria, and the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt. Jerusalem came completely under Israeli control. The United Nations calls for Israeli withdrawal and establishment of peace. More than one million Palestinians fell under Israeli control during this conflict.

1960

Yasser Arafat forms the Fatah Guerilla movement, precursor to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority.

1974

On November 22, Palestinian Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat appears before the United Nations to appeal for Palestinian rights to statehood and sovereignty. He is met with a mixed response. The Israeli delegation to the UN boycotts his speech. One week later, the UN recognizes Palestinians' rights to statehood.

1973

On October 6, the Jewish festival of Yom Kippur, Egypt and Syria attack Israel. Egypt takes back the Suez Canal and a narrow strip of land, while Syria reclaims the Golan Heights. Israel, taken by surprise, narrowly survives the attack with the help of US military airlifts. Questions about the Israeli army's lack of preparation lead to Prime Minister Golda Meir's resignation.

1978

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin meet with American President Jimmy Carter to develop a framework for peace in the Middle East. They sign the Camp David peace accords at the White House on September 18, 1978. In the early 1980s, Israel returns the Sinai to Egypt.

1987

In December, a riot in the Jebaliya refugee camp on the Gaza Strip touches off six years of Palestinian uprising, or "intefadeh." This riot and the ensuing violence pressure Israel to reach a compromise over Palestinian rights.

1995

Just prior to the first elections since the peace process had begun, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzahk Rabin is assassinated. His killer is a Jew opposed to the peace process.

Late in the year, Israel withdraws from six West Bank cities in compliance with the Oslo Accords.

1993

On September 13, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat agree to mutual recognition through the Oslo Peace Accord. The accord allowed for creation of autonomous zones for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. In return, the PLO renounces violence and terrorism, and agrees to revise its charter to remove sections referring to the destruction of Israel. Issues such as the future of Jerusalem are tabled for future discussion.

This timeline shows the development of Israel throughout the 20th century to the present day. Using your mouse pointer, select dates on the timeline below to follow Israel's development.

2001

Ariel Sharon is sworn in as Israel's prime minister. Although he wishes to work for peace, he feels there can be no negotiations while the violence of the Palestinian uprising continues. In April, Palestinian mortar bombs in the southern Israeli town of Sderot stir Israel to assault Palestinian targets and retake land in Gaza ceded to Palestine. Within 24 hours, Israeli troops withdraw in response to United States (US) criticism of the raids. Israelis and Palestinians agree to cease fire following the September 11 attacks on the US but that is not implemented. In December, the militant Islamic group Hamas claims responsibility for three suicide bombings and a bus explosion in Israel that are the deadliest in four years. More violence leads Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat to call for a halt to all violence in the Middle East on December 14. Sporadic violence continues and escalates through the first half of 2002.

2000

In July talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat collapse at Camp David. On September 28, Israeli Likud party leader Ariel Sharon visited Temple Mount, a Jewish holy site sacred to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, or noble sanctuary. His visit, considered a demonstration of Israeli domination, spurs Palestinian riots in Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank. Violence soon escalates from rock throwing to machine gun fire and suicide bombings.