The history of Palestine and Israel is a complex and contentious one, with roots dating back to the late 19th century. Here is a brief timeline of key events:
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Late 19th century: Rise of national movements, including Zionism and Arab nationalism.
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1917: Balfour Declaration issued by the British government, endorsing the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
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1947: United Nations adopts Resolution 181, known as the Partition Plan, which sought to divide the British Mandate of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states.
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May 14, 1948: State of Israel is created, sparking the first Arab-Israeli War. The war ends in 1949 with Israels victory, but 750,000 Palestinians are displaced, and the territory is divided into 3 parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank (of the Jordan River), and the Gaza Strip.
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1967: Israel occupies East Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as most of the Syrian Golan Heights, Gaza, and the Egyptian Sinai peninsula.
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1987: Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza start the First Intifada against Israel.
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1993: Oslo Accords are signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), committing to negotiating an end to the conflict based on a two-state solution.
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2018: Palestinians in the Gaza Strip conduct weekly demonstrations at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
The conflict has resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who became refugees, sparking a decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people. The Palestinians seek to establish their own independent state in at least a part of historic Palestine. The roots of the conflict can be traced to the rise of national movements, including Zionism and Arab nationalism, and the international communitys endorsement of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
