Brief chronology of significant events in the historic land of palestine (adapted from "How Long O Lord")

1517-1917

Ottoman Empire.

1878

First Zionist settlement.

1897

First Zionist Congress convened by Theodore Herzl in Basel, Switzerland.

1914-1917

Britain makes conflicting promises: Balfour Declaration promises a Jewish home in Palestine. Hussein McMahon agreement promises independence to the Arab peoples.

1917-1947

British Mandate.

1936-1939

Great Arab Rebeliion in response to the Peel Commisssion proposal for a Jewish state, an Arab state, and a British enclave.

1947

UN Resolution 181 establishes the State of Israel (55%) and State of Palestine (45%). Arab-Israeli War: On May 1948, Israel becomes an independent state and the Green Line dividing Israel from Jordan is established, giving Israel 78 of the land. More than 420 Palestinian villages are destroyed and 800,000 Palestinians become refugees.

1956

Israel, with Britain and France, invades Egypt and occupies Sinai and Gaza, but Eisenhower forces their withdrawal.

1964

PLO recognized by the Arab League as the representative of Palestinian people.

1967

Israel's "preemptive strike" against Egypt and Syria and in six days takes the West Bank from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the Sinai and Gaza from Egypt. UN Resolution 242 calls for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and for the right of all states in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized borders. Sprial of violence increases PLO attacks; Israel retaliates against Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon; about 3000 Palestinians are killed. PLO moves to Lebanon.

1979

Camp David Accord signed between Israel and Egypt; Sinai is returned to Egypt.

1982

Israel invades Lebanon; PLO agrees to a ceasefire and withdrawal from Lebanon.

1987-93

The first Intifada

1993

Oslo I Agreement; PLO confirms its acceptance of the State of ISrael, laid out in UN Resolution 242.

1995-1997

Oslo II Accords; Israeli settlements increase rapidly despite being outlawed by the Accords and "greater" Jerusalem expands to incorporate much Palestinian territory under Israeli control.

2000 (Sept)

Ariel Sharon's visit to the Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount ignites the Al Aqsa Intifada.

2000 (Dec)

Barak's "Generous Offer" rejected by Palestinians as not creating a viable and contiguous state.

2001 (Feb)

Sharon defeats Barak and becomes Prime Minister, forming a coalition government with the Labor Party.

2005 (Jan)

Mahmoud Abbas wins Palestinian elections.

2005 - ?: ...

For more information about the history of Israel/Palestine, visit http://www.mideastweb.org/briefhistory.htm