CTeenConnection

With many opposing views and false news circulating the media, it is difficult to find the facts on what truly happened in history or a current event–especially with the Arab-Israeli conflict. With this situation containing heavily biased and strong views on both sides, it is hard to research the history of the conflict without inaccurate information coming up. So, here is a run-down on the key moments of the Arab-Israeli conflict using facts only.

November 29, 1947- United Nations Partitioned Palestine into Separate Jewish and Palestinian States:

While Jews had already been fleeing to the British Mandate of Palestine–which makes up today’s areas known as Israel and Palestine–because of Nazi control in Germany since 1933, Israel became an official Jewish nation in 1947, during which the United Nations General Assembly voted 33 to 13 with 10 abstentions to partition western Palestine into two states–one for the Jews and the other for the Palestinian Arabs. Jerusalem, cherished by both Muslims and Jews as a holy city, was to stay controlled by the United Nations. The Zionists accepted this partition plan, even though they had always dreamed of controlling all of western Palestine and Jerusalem. The Palestinian Arabs and the surrounding Arab states rejected the partition proposal. They felt that Palestine was all theirs, that the Jews were a foreign implant foisted upon them, and that they had the strength to drive them out.

May 14, 1948 — Israel Declared Its Independence:

In the Tel Aviv Art Museum, David Ben-Gurion read out Israel’s Declaration of Independence and proclaimed the establishment of the Jewish state in Palestine to be called Medinat Israel–the State of Israel.  This declaration included equality to all citizens and also offered future peace to all neighboring Arab states.

May 15, 1948 — First Arab-Israeli War Began:

The day after the declaration of the state of Israel, five Arab nations invaded former Palestine, beginning the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. In 1949, an armistice was signed between Israel and the warring nations of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

July 1956 — Suez Crisis:

The Suez Canal was a major international waterway in Egypt used for transportation in trading. Egypt violated the terms of the Egyptian-Israeli armistice agreement and blocked Israeli ships from passing through the canal. On October 29, 1956, Israel began its assault on Egyptian military positions, capturing the whole of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula.

June 5, 1967 — Six-Day War Took Place:

In 1967, Israel declared war on the nations in which an armistice was signed two decades ago after the Arab-Israeli War. The reason for this was because Nasser, then president of Egypt, threatened to annihilate the Jewish state and gained support from Syria and Jordan, building up their militaries for this purpose.  The war ended with Israel gaining territory from all three nations.

Oct. 6, 1973 — Yom Kippur War Began:

In 1973, Egypt planned a joint attack on Israel with Syria: Egypt attacking from the east bank, while Syria invaded from Golan. The war ended with a cease-fire imposed by the influence of the world’s superpowers: the U.S.S.R and the United States. This was because the two nations did not want the war to become “too serious,” in which they would need to be involved in combat.

Dec. 1987 — Founding of Hamas:

Hamas, founded by Yassin, became an organization leading an armed resistance against Israel. Yassin preached and performed charitable work in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, both of which were occupied by Israeli forces following the 1967 Six Day War. Following the outbreak of the first intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli control of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem broke out. The following year, Hamas published its charter, calling for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic society in historic Palestine.

June 10-18, 2007 — Hamas Takeover in Gaza and Israel Blockaded:

Hamas militants seized the presidential compound in Gaza City overnight after a week of factional fighting, which left more than a hundred people dead. Israel ordered the blockade of all cargo shipments to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, making it very for Palestinians to leave Gaza.

Jan. 21, 2009 — Israel Announced a Unilateral Ceasefire and Israeli Troops Left Gaza:

The Israeli Army left the Gaza strip after a three-week assault against militants from the Hamas group. Overall, Palestinian medical sources in Gaza said that at least 1300 Palestinians were killed during the three-week conflict, which began on December 27. Thirteen Israelis, including three civilians, were killed, said the Israeli army. Thousands of homes were destroyed, and the territory’s infrastructure had been badly damaged.

Sep. 20, 2011 — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Sought Full UN Membership for a Palestinian State:

After many years of dispute over territory, Palestine decided to apply for statehood. The United States had been vocal about its intention to veto any Palestinian bid for statehood. France and the United Kingdom said that they would abstain from the vote, as well. However, the request to the UN was never voted on but was predicted not to be passed. Although this was not passed, the UN voted Palestine as a non-member observer state in 2012.

Sep. – Oct. 2015 — Escalated Violence between Palestinians and Israelis:

Throughout the fall of 2015, violence between the two nations increased and tensions and debate on territory were still ongoing.

Dec. 6, 2017 — President Trump Recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital, Ordered US Embassy to Move:

“‘I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,’ President Trump said in a controversial address from the White House on Wednesday afternoon [Dec. 6, 2017]. He also directed the State Department to ‘begin preparation to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.’ This idea was quite different then the stance America had taken in the past. In history, no nation had ever before had an embassy in Jerusalem as well as recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s, for it was accepted to be neither the Palestinians’ nor Israelis’. On May 14, 2018, The US had officially opened the embassy in Jerusalem.

The Israeli-Palestine conflict is an ongoing issue with much bias in the media. With this shortened timeline, I hope a clearer picture of the history was presented.  However, there are so many more events that occurred throughout history between these two lands that were not stated in this quick summary.  To learn more, visit:

https://israelipalestinian.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000031