This "Modern History of Israel" is my attempt to piece together a timeline of the major events that led to the birth of the modern State of Israel, and from then to the present date. Essentially, this encompasses the past century.

As I am not an historian, this will be little more than a chronology of major events since 1897. Hopefully, it will serve as a framework from which you can build a better understanding of the world's nearly universal opposition to the very existence of Jews, in general, and the State of Israel, in particular. I will attempt to link each and every event in the timeline to the agreement, treaty, U.N. Resolution, map, or other document to which that event pertains. My goal is to promote a better understanding of these events, not to produce an historical treatise.

For Ancient History

For a short, sweet, and to-the-point history of Israel from ancient times, click here.

For a far more extensive and EXCELLENT Ancient Jewish History, click here.

Many of the details presented in the time line below came from these sites.

Late 1800s Economic and political instability and pogroms shake Eastern Europe. Some Jews go to Palestine but 2.5 million move west, 2.0 million to the U.S. by World War I.

1894-1906 Dreyfus Affair in France exposes deep anti-Semitism. Trial is covered by Viennese journalist Theodor Herzl.

1896 Herzl writes The Jewish State. "The idea which I have developed in this pamphlet is a very old one: it is the restoration of the Jewish state." Herzl is considered the Father of Zionism, a political movement to create a Jewish state.

1897 First Zionist Congress convenes in Basle, Switzerland. Declares Palestine the Jewish Homeland. Participants develop a structure of government which can be transferred to Palestine at some future time, including the World Zionist Organization to link all Jews together, the Jewish National Fund to acquire land, a committee to manage finances, and a political committee to govern the land.

1915-16 Hussein-McMahon correspondence. Britain promises to create an Arab kingdom in exchange for war support during WWI.

1916 Sykes-Picot Accords. Secret British-French agreement to divide the postwar Middle East between them.

1917 Balfour Declaration. Arthur James Balfour, Britain's Secretary for Foreign Affairs, issues a declaration supporting the Zionist cause. In exchange for war support in WWI, Britain promises Jews a "national home" in Palestine, without prejudice to the "civil and religious rights" of the non-Jewish population.

1920 Histadrut (Jewish labor federation) and Haganah (Jewish defense organization) founded. Vaad Leumi (National Council) set up by Jewish community (yishuv) to conduct its affairs.

1922-48 Britain rules Palestine, Jordan, and Iraq under League of Nations Mandates. France controls Syria and Lebanon.

1929 After the outbreak of violent protests by the local Arab population in 1920 and 1921 and riots in 1929 that take many Jewish lives in Jerusalem and Hebron, the British send an investigating commission to Palestine to determine the reason for the disorders. Britain issues a new report which, in effect, withdraws its earlier approval of a Jewish State.

1936-39 Palestinian nationalist uprising against Britain. Britain proposes partition of Palestine and the expulsion of 250,000 Palestinians.

1939 A new White Paper issued by the British severely limits the number of Jews allowed to arrive in Palestine. This coincides exactly at a time when Jewish refugees are trying to escape the terrors of Nazi Germany.

1939-45 World War II. Holocaust kills nearly six million Jews. Many survivors look to Palestine for refuge. Go here for a timeline of the Holocaust — including what the United States knew, when they knew it and what they failed to do about it.

1944-47 Jewish-British War. Jewish groups in Palestine try to expel Britain from Palestine. Mainstream Jewish fighters under David Ben Gurion are called Haganah. They later become the Israeli army. Two separate military groups [Irgun Zvai Leumi led by Menachem Begin and Lehi or the Stern Gang led by Yitzhak Shamir] resort to assassination and bombings. Many British soldiers and Arab civilians are killed.

1947 Britain decides it cannot bring peace to Palestine and turns the matter over to the UN. On November 29, 1947, in Resolution 181, the General Assembly of the United Nations votes to partition Palestine into Jewish and Palestinian states with an international enclave around Jerusalem; the British Mandate ends. [See map] Arab leaders reject the plan and insist on a united Palestine with a secular government. Fighting begins between Jews and Palestinians. Many Palestinians become refugees.

1948 State of Israel Established. With Britain out, on May 14, 1948, the National Council declares statehood and names the new nation, Israel. On May 15 Israel is invaded [See map] by five Arab states (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon) who engage in an escalating war to prevent the partition of Palestine, the creation of a Jewish state, and Israeli expansion into the proposed Palestinian area. Israeli units defeat the combined Arab armies. Ben-Gurion becomes Israel's first Prime Minister and Defense Minister. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) established. This results in the War of Independence (May 1948-July 1949). What the UN had designated as the Arab state is split into three parts: some is taken by Israel and incorporated into their new state; the tiny Gaza Strip is held by Egypt and governed by them; and the largest remaining component -- commonly referred to as the "West Bank" of the Jordan River -- is held by Jordan. The UN had proposed that Jerusalem and other holy places become an internationally-governed entity. But in the fighting, Jerusalem is divided into Israeli west and Jordanian east. The 1948 defeat is a major humiliation for the Arab world. Within a few years, the governments of Egypt and Syria are swept away in military coups and the king of Jordan is assassinated.

1949 Armistice agreements signed with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon. Jerusalem divided under Israeli and Jordanian rule. [See map] First Knesset (parliament) elected. On May 11, 1949, General Assembly passes Resolution 273 admitting Israel to United Nations as it's 59th member.

1948-52 Mass immigration of Jews from Europe and Arab countries into Israel. But of the 1,200,000 Palestinians living in Palestine at the time of the League of Nations Mandates, more than 725,000 are driven out of their homeland or flee the fighting that accompanies the creation of a Jewish state. Only 160,000 remain in Israel itself. The Israeli government allows only a few to return after WWII is over. By 1950, over one million live in UN-supported refugee camps in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon and Jordan. The camps become centers of political militancy.

1954 January 1954, Moshe Sharett becomes Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

1955 Ben-Gurion becomes Israel's Defense Minister and later the Prime Minister for the second time.

1956 Suez War. Britain, France, and Israel attack Egypt. Israel seizes Egypt's Sinai peninsula. [See map] US and USSR demand Israeli, French, and British withdrawal.

1962 Adolf Eichmann tried and executed in Israel for his part in the Holocaust.

1963 In June 1963, Levi Eshkol becomes Prime Minister.

1964 Palestinians form Fatah under Yasser Arafat; the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) is formed in 1967 by George Habash. Jordan becomes the main base for guerrilla actions.

1964 The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is formed by the Arab League under Egyptian direction. The PLO Charter calls for a united Palestine under Arab control. Only Jews living in Palestine before 1946 will be permitted to remain.

1967 Six-Day War [in June]. Israel crushes Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Israel captures the Sinai peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt, the Golan province from Syria, and the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan -- Jerusalem is reunited. [See map] Approximately 250,000 more Palestinian refugees flee, or are forced, into Jordan. But, more Palestinians are now under Israeli rule. On November 22, 1967, the U.N. Security Council passes Resolution 242, calling on Israel to concede territory captured in the Six-Day War. Israeli's maintain this resolution implicitly recognizes Israel's 1949 borders.

1968 In July, Palestinian National Council establishes the Palestinian National Charter.

1969 When Prime Minister Levi Eshkol dies suddenly in early 1969, Golda Meir assumes the post of Prime Minister. Yasser Arafat becomes head of the PLO. It becomes an umbrella organization aspiring to unite and speak for all Palestinians and is controlled by Palestinians in exile.

1970 In September, militant Palestinians try to overthrow Jordanian King Hussein with Syrian help. US and Israel mobilize to help Jordan if necessary. More than 3,000 Palestinians are killed. Palestinian guerrilla bases move to Lebanon.

1972 September 1972, PLO massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes in Munich, Germany.

1970-76 Palestinians form "Black September" to carry out revenge assassinations and hijackings. Israelis form "Wrath of God" to assassinate Palestinian leaders. Much bloodshed follows.

1973 Yom Kippur War. Egypt and Syria attempt to regain lost territories on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), the holiest day of the Jewish year, when they launch a coordinated surprise assault against Israel on October 6, 1973, with the Egyptian army crossing the Suez Canal and Syrian troops penetrating the Golan Heights. Initially, they push Israel back but a massive airlift of US arms to Israel tips the balance. The Israel Defense Forces turn the tide of battle and repulse the attackers, crossing the Suez Canal into Egypt and advancing to within 20 miles of the Syrian capital, Damascus. On October 22, 1973, the U.N. Security Council passes Resolution 338, calling on Israel to concede territory captured in both the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War. Arab oil states proclaim a boycott against all countries helping Israel.

1974 Yasser Arafat speaks to UN. In a major shift in PLO policy, he calls for a united Palestine with a democratic secular government "where Christian, Jew, and Muslim live in justice, equality and fraternity". Arafat also says, "I come to you with an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun; do not let the olive branch fall from my hand." On June 2, 1974, Yitzhak Rabin becomes Prime Minister.

1975 Lebanese civil war begins. By the end of the 1980s, 144,000 Lebanese have died. On November 10, 1975, the United Nations General Assembly adopts Resolution 3379 (XXX), which equates Zionism [the political movement to create a Jewish state] with racism. Vehemently objected to by U.S.

1976 July 4, 1976, Israel rescues hostages at Entebbe Airport in Uganda.

1977 May 1977, Menachem Begin becomes prime minister of Israel. His Likud party traditionally advocates a "Greater Israel" including the West Bank and Gaza and perhaps Jordan with unlimited settlement of Jews in Arab-populated areas under Israeli occupation. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat of Egypt goes to Jerusalem to open peace talks between Egypt and Israel in November 1977.

1978 In September, Egypt and Israel sign the Camp David Accords which contain a framework for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, including a detailed proposal for self-government for the Palestinians. Israel invades Lebanon and seizes a "security zone" up to the Litani River. It sets up the pro-Israel government of the Southern Lebanese Army.

1979 Peace Treaty with Egypt. On 26 March 1979, Israel and Egypt sign a peace treaty in Washington, DC, bringing the 30-year state of war between them to an end.

1981 June 1981, Israel disables Iraqi nuclear reactor in Osiraq. October 1981, Anwar Sadat assassinated by Islamic extremists.

1982 Israel invades Lebanon and occupies much of the country up to Beirut, which is subjected to prolonged siege. The US brokers a withdrawal of PLO fighters and Arafat's staff to Tunis. After the massacre of unarmed Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatilla refugee camps, US troops return as part of a peace-keeping force but soon begin to favor some Lebanese groups and attack others. Lebanese resistance groups in the Shiite community attack Israeli, US and Western forces and organizations. Also, and pursuant to the terms of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty, Israel completes its withdrawal from the Sinai peninsula in April 1982, exchanging former cease fire lines and armistice agreements for mutually recognized international boundaries.

1983 October 1983, Yitzhak Shamir becomes Prime Minister.

1984 US troops leave Lebanon after a terrorist bomber kills 24l Marines. In September 1984, Shimon Peres becomes Prime Minister.

1985 Hussein-Arafat Accords and UN speech by Israeli Foreign Minister Peres endorse an international conference to negotiate a settlement.

1986 Yitzhak Shamir becomes Prime Minister for second time.

1987 December 1987, the Palestinian Intifada (uprising) against Israeli control begins in the Occupied Territories .

1988 Jordan repudiates its claim to the West Bank; the PLO recognizes Israel, proclaims a Palestinian state, renounces terrorism, and calls for negotiations with Israel; Israeli elections, Yitzhak Shamir returns as prime minister.

1990 August 1990, Iraq invades Kuwait.

1991 Gulf War in Kuwait and Iran from January through February. Scud missiles fall in Israel. In October 1991, negotiations open in Madrid [Madrid Peace Conference] under US and Russian auspices. Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, Syrians, and Lebanese participate. The talks have two parts: bilateral talks between Israel and Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and the Palestinians and multilateral talks on five functional issues: water, refugees, environment, economic development, and security. In December, U.N. General Assembly repeals Resolution 3379 [equating Zionism to racism].

1992 June 1992, Labor Party leader Yitzhak Rabin becomes Prime Minister for second time.

1993 Oslo Accords. Following months of intensive behind-the-scenes contacts in Oslo between negotiators for Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a Declaration of Principles (DOP) was formulated outlining self-government arrangements for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Its signing was preceded by an exchange of letters (September 1993) between PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, in which the PLO renounced the use of terrorism, pledged to invalidate those articles in its National Charter [Covenant] which deny Israel's right to exist and committed itself to a peaceful resolution of the decades-long conflict between the Palestinians and the Jews over the Land. In response, Israel recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people. In September 1993, the DOP is signed by Israel and the PLO in Washington, DC. It contains a set of mutually agreed-upon general principles regarding a five-year interim period of Palestinian self-rule, to be implemented in four stages. December 1993, Israel and the Vatican establish diplomatic relations

1994 The first stage of the DOP, setting up self-rule in the Gaza Strip and Jericho area, takes place in May 1994. In August 1994, the second stage is introduced involving the transfer of powers and responsibilities to Palestinian representatives in the West Bank through early empowerment in five specific spheres - education and culture, health, social welfare, direct taxation and tourism. Three years of talks between Jordan and Israel following the Madrid Conference culminated in a declaration by King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in July 1994, which ended the 46-year state-of-war between their two countries. The Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty was signed at the Arava border crossing [near Eilat in Israel and Akaba in Jordan] on October 26, 1994, in the presence of American President Bill Clinton. Since then, Israel and Jordan have been cooperating in many spheres for the benefit of both countries. On December 10, 1994, in recognition of their efforts to advance the cause of peace, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat were awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

1995 The Interim Israeli-Palestinian Agreement, signed September 28, 1995, constituting the third stage of the DOP, broadens Palestinian self-government in the West Bank by means of an elected self-governing authority -- the Palestinian Council -- to allow the Palestinians to conduct their own internal affairs. November 1995, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin assassinated by a Jewish extremist; Shimon Peres becomes Prime Minister for second time.

1996 The last stage of the DOP -- negotiations between the parties on final status arrangements -- begins as scheduled in May 1996. These talks are to determine the nature of the permanent settlement agreement, covering remaining issues including refugees, settlements, security matters, borders, Jerusalem and other subjects of common interest. June 1996, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu becomes Prime Minister.

1998 Wye River Plantation Memorandum between Israel and PLO signed on October 23, 1998.

1999 May 1999, Ehud Barak is elected Prime Minister. Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum between Israel and PLO signed on September 4, 1999.

2000 In May, 2000, Israel is temporarily admitted to the United Nations Western European and Others Regional Group (WEOG). Admission to a Regional Group is a pre-requisite to becoming a Non-Permanent Member of the Security Council or a member of other important bodies within the U.N. Until now, Israel has been the only U.N. member state not a member of a Regional Group.

On July 25, the Trilateral Statement [Israel, PLO and U.S.] on the Middle East Peace Summit is signed at Camp David after negotiations over Jerusalem breakdown. All reports indicate that although Barak was willing to make unparalleled concessions, the negotiations broke-down because of Arafat's stubborn unwillingness to compromise on any issues. PLO Chairman Arafat threatens to unilaterally declare Palestinian statehood on September 13.

On September 28, Ariel Sharon visits the Temple Mount to make the point that any Jew can visit there. Palestinians immediately protest and start riots and stone throwing. Israeli police respond which leads to an escalation of activities and many deaths on both sides. The Palestinians blame Sharon for inciting the riots; Israel blames Arafat for not stopping the riots and violence by his people and for trying to capitalize on the situation to gain world support for the establishment of the Palestinian state. The intifada has begun again!

On October 7, the U.N. Security Council passes Resolution 1322 condemning Israel's use of force against the Palestinian's as "excessive". The United States abstains, allowing the resolution to pass.

Also on October 7, one of Israel's most revered holy sites, Jacob's Tomb, is destroyed by Palestinians after Israel withdraws it's forces from Nablus. The Palestinian Police had agreed to guard the site but instead stood by as a mob ransacked the site, burned books and destroyed reading stands. The Mayor of Nablus promised to repair the site. Some repairs were made to the site but the top of the dome was painted green — the color of Islam — raising serious doubts as to whether the Palestinian Authority would protect religious sites belonging to Jews and Christians and guarantee access to them as Israel had done since the Six-Day War. [See Israel's Protection of Holy Places Law, 1967]

2001 On February 6, Ariel Sharon is elected as Prime Minister of Israel.

On September 11, Al Qaeda terrorists crash commercial airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. killing more than 3000 persons. Thousands of Palestinians take to the streets to celebrate while most of the rest of the world mourns and expresses outrage.

2002 Just before dawn on January 3, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) navy and air force units capture a Palestinian Authority-owned freighter, the Karine-A, loaded with 50 tons of weapons being transported from Iran.

On June 24, President Bush calls on the Palestinians to elect new leaders, eradicate terrorism and create institutional reforms, with the vision of a Palestinian state in 3 years [by 2005]. In the Bush Peace Plan speech, President Bush also calls for Israel to withdraw to its September 2000 borders and to end its settlement activity.

In October, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia collectively propose a “road map” for Israeli-Palestinian peace, which is leaked to the press. The plan calls for a three-staged approach to peace, leading to an interim Palestinian state after elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the creation of a permanent state at the end of the 'road'.

2003 On March 10, Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) is appointed the new Palestinian prime minister.

On April 30, the Road Map is officially delivered to Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas. Within one month [by May 25], Ariel Sharon officially accepts and the Israeli Cabinet approves the 'Road Map' plan.

On June 3, President Bush meets with Arab leaders in Egypt who endorse the 'Road Map' and agree to crack down on terrorism and its sources of funding. He tells them that Israel “must deal with the settlements” and make sure there is a contiguous Palestinian state.

On June 4, at a meeting with President Bush, Ariel Sharon and Jordan’s King Abdullah in Aqaba, Jordan, Mahmoud Abbas calls for an end to the Palestinian “armed intifada”. Sharon states publicly that he understands the Palestinians’ need for “territorial continuity” in the West Bank.

On December 18, 2003, the Disengagement Plan is introduced by Prime Minister Sharon. Under the Plan, Israel will [1] evacuate the Gaza Strip and will redeploy outside the Strip; [2] evacuate certain northern West Bank settlements to enable territorial contiguity for Palestinians in the area; and [3] continue building the anti-terrorist security fence between Israel and the West Bank. The goal of the plan is to break the deadlock for peace by removing the too-often lethal friction between Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank, thereby improving the situation. The Israelis reason that if and when the Palestinian side demonstrates its willingness to cease terrorism and institute reforms as required by the Roadmap, the dialogue for peace between Israel and the Palestinians can resume.

2004 The Disengagement Plan is approved by Israel’s cabinet on June 6, 2004, and by the Knesset on October 25, 2004

2005 On February 8, 2005, Israel’s Disengagement Plan is endorsed by Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority at a summit meeting with Israel at Sharm e-Sheikh. The Knesset passes the final version of the Disengagement Plan Implementation Law on February 16, 2005.

2006 Prime Minister Sharon suffers a brain hemorrhage on January 4, 2006, and Ehud Olmert is designated Acting Prime Minister in accordance with with the Basic Law: Government. He has not regained consciousness.

On March 28, 2006 elections are held. Ehud Olmert is elected Prime Minister and forms a new government.

On June 25, 2006, Israel commences military operations against Palestinian terrorism from the Gaza Strip after an infiltration and attack by terrorists in the area of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom leaves an IDF officer and a soldier dead, a soldier abducted, and four others wounded. On July 12, 2006, eight IDF soldiers are killed and two kidnapped on the border with Lebanon, in an attack by the Hizbullah terror organization. Hizbullah simultaneously launches Katyusha rockets against Israeli communities near the border. The IDF responds with Operation Change of Direction. A ceasefire ends open hostilities on August 14, 2006, leaving 43 Israeli civilians and 117 IDF soldiers dead. 3,970 rockets land on Israel, 901 of which hit in urban areas; and 6,000 homes are hit, displacing more than 300,000 residents, and forcing more than a million people to live to live in shelters. Almost one-third of Israel's population - over two million people - are directly exposed to the missile threat.