Israeli/Palestinian
Conflict- Timeline
1250 B.C.
The Israelites (Jews or Hebrews)
settle in Canaan (part of modern day
Israel) after having fled slavery by
the Egyptians.
1000 B.C.
The Philistines battle the
Israelites for control over
Canaan. King David
conquers the Philistine
armies and makes
Jerusalem the capital of
the kingdom of Israel.
His son, King Solomon,
built the Holy Temple in
Jerusalem which is later
destroyed.
135 A.D.
Roman Emperor Hadrian expels the
Jews out of Jerusalem and renamed
the area Palaestina after the
Philistines. Rome
Most Jews fled Israel and settled in areas in Eastern Europe. Israel becomes
By this time Christianity had begun and was spreading in Known as Palestine.
the Middle East and into Europe.
Roman Empire
600 A.D.
The prophet Muhammad establishes
the religion of Islam. Muslim armies
move down from Arabia and
conquer most of the Middle East
including Palestine. The area
becomes mostly Arab and Muslim.
1930
Persecution by Nazi
’ s
Germany drives
many Jews to move
to Palestine. This
Zionist movement
called for Jews to
return to their
homeland.
Palestinians resist
the return of Jews to
the region.
1940’s
Palestine is a mandate of Britain.
British forces occupy the area and
try to keep peace between Arab
Palestinians and Jewish Israelis.
Pressure rises for an Israeli state to
be established and it goes before the
United Nations for discussion.
1947
The United Nations created a plan to divide
Palestine into two nations- one for the Jews,
and one for the Arabs. This plan was rejected
by Arab Palestinians.
1948
May 14, Israel is declared an independent
country. Nearby Arab countries attack in
response and war breaks out.
Israel wins the
1949
war and holds
territory beyond
the former UN
established
borders. 750,000
Arab Palestinians
are displaced and
flee to the West
Bank as refugees.
1964
Palestinian Arabs organize the PLO
(Palestinian Liberation Organization).
The PLO uses guerrilla warfare to try
to overthrow Israel.
1967
The Six-Day War (June 5-10)
took place between Israel
and the neighboring Arab
states of Egypt, Jordan, and
Syria. At the war's end,
Israel had gained control of
the Sinai Peninsula, the
Gaza Strip, the West Bank,
East Jerusalem, and the
Golan Heights. Israel then
built settlements in Gaza and
the West Bank.
1987-1993
The first Intifada
(meaning “shaking off”)
takes place. The
Palestinian uprising
included violent attacks,
suicide bombings, civil
disobedience, and stone
throwing. Violence was
directed at both Israeli
military forces and
civilians. Israel
responded with military
force.
September 2000
A second Intifada erupted in
the area causing Israel to
tighten up security and place
more restrictions on
Palestinians living in the West
Bank.
•The PLO insisted the Israeli
military responded with
excessive violence.
•Israeli military reported most
Palestinian deaths were
actually a result of PLO
violence that was blamed on
Israeli military to incite
further rioting.
Recently…
Many Palestinians and Israelis feel both nations
could exist together and share the land. However
there are many remaining issues that need to be
addressed by both groups:
•Mutual recognition
•Placement of borders
•Security
•Water rights
•Control of Jerusalem
•Land rights
•Legalities concerning refugees
Leading the Fight…
Hamas: A paramilitary force
fighting Israeli occupation in
Gaza.
Hezbollah: A paramilitary group
from Lebanon working against
Israeli presence in the region.
They are accused by some of
using excessive violence and
terrorism in their methods but
praised by others because they
also run hospitals, built schools,
and provide social services to
refugees in the West Bank.
Jerusalem Divided
Jews, Christians,
Muslims, and
Armenians all share
the holy city of
Jerusalem. Muslims
built the Dome of the
Rock and Al Aqsa
Mosque on the site
where the ancient
Jewish Temple had
been.
