This section provides a brief synopsis of the region of Palestine from biblical times. It highlights the history of the region in general and gets specific to issues of conflict as they began to arise. The purpose of going back to biblical times is so that you can know who the inhabitants were during the various periods of time in history and the length of time they ruled.
In the past, the Zionist propagandists attempted to use biblical history as their distorted justification to the right to the land by claiming they were descendants of the tribe of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Unfortunately, they intentionally failed to mention that Abraham had another son, Ishmael, who was the father of Arab tribes.
Realizing how ridiculous their argument was and how easy it was to disprove their intentionally skewed view, this argument has long been replaced with other deceitful arguments. In general, Zionist propaganda has avoided using religion as an argument to their "right" to occupy the land of Palestine. The reason: Zionism is a political philosophy not a religious one. In addition, the countless resolutions condemning Israel's discriminatory practices against the Palestinians do not support any religious teachings. The more recent incompetent attempt to use religion has arisen from the half witted ultra conservative religious right.
It is quite ironic how the Zionists and the
neo-conservative Christian groups have formed
an alliance when realizing their ultimate
goal of "return" does not share the same end.
The neo-cons believe that Jesus as the Messiah
will not return until the entire region is
taken over by the Jews. Once this happens,
they believe that the Jewish population must
convert to Christianity in order to be "saved"
or they will be destroyed by God. Based upon
the doctrine of "Replacement Theology", the
neo-cons believe it is the Christians who
now are God's chosen people since the Jews
failed to accept Jesus as the Messiah. The
Zionist Jews, being self-serving, utilize
the neo-cons beliefs to further their goals
as they do not believe in the "punishment"
awaiting them for not accepting the Messiah
or the doctrine of "Replacement Theology end as
the neo-cons do.
B.C. 600,000-10,000
B.C. - Paleolithic
and Mesolithic period. Earliest human remains
in the area, found south of Lake Tiberias,
dated to circa 600,000 B.C.
10,000-5,000
B.C. - Neolithic
period. Establishment of settled agricultural
communities.
5,000-3,000
B.C. - Chalcolithic
period. Copper and stone tools and artifacts.
Remains from this period found near Jericho,
Beersheba, and the Dead Sea.
3,000-2,000
B.C. - Early
Bronze Age. Arrival and settlement of Canaanites
(3,000-2,500 B.C.).
ca. 1,250
B.C. - Israelite
conquest of Canaan.
965-928
B.C. - King
Solomon. Construction of the temple in Jerusalem.
928 B.C.
- Division of Israelite state into the kingdoms
of Israel and Judah.
721 B.C.
- Assyrian conquest of the kingdom of Israel.
586 B.C.
- Judah defeated by Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar.
Deportation of its population to Babylon;
destruction of the temple.
539 B.C.
- Persians conquer Babylonia. Some Jews
allowed to return. Construction of a new
temple.
333 B.C.
- Conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great
brings Palestine under Greek rule.
323 B.C.
- Death of Alexander leads to alternate
rule by Ptolemies of Egypt and Seleucids
of Syria.
165 B.C.
- Maccabees revolt against the Seleucid
ruler Antiochus Epiphanes and go on to establish
independent Jewish state.
63 B.C.
- Incorporation of Palestine into the Roman
Empire.
70
- 1899 A.D. 70
- Destruction of the Second Temple by Roman
Emperor Titus.
132-135
- Bar Kokhba revolt suppressed. Jews barred
from Jerusalem and Emperor Hadrian builds
new pagan city of Aelia Capitolina on its
ruins.
330-640
- Palestine under Byzantine rule: Jerusalem
and Palestine increasingly Christianized.
638
- Arabs under the Caliph 'Umar capture Palestine
from Byzantines.
661-750
- Umayyad caliphs rule Palestine from Damascus.
Dynasty descended from Umayya of Meccan
tribe of Quraysh. Construction of Dome of
the Rock in Jerusalem by Caliph 'Abd al-Malik
(685-705). Construction of al-Aqsa mosque
in Jerusalem by Caliph al-Walid I (705-715).
750-1258
- 'Abbasid caliphs rule Palestine from Iraq.
Dynasty, founded by Abu al-' Abbas al-Saffah,
who is descended from' Abbas, uncle of the
Prophet.
969
- Fatimid dynasty, claiming descent from
the Prophet's daughter Fatima and her cousin
'Ali, rule Palestine from Egypt. They proclaim
themselves caliphs in rivalry to the' Abbasids.
1071
- Saljuqs, originally from Isfahan, capture
Jerusalem and parts of Palestine, which
remains officially within the 'Abbasid Empire.
1099-1187
- Crusaders establish the Latin Kingdom
of Jerusalem.
1187 - Kurdish
general Saladin, son of Ayyub, the sultan
of Mosul, defeats Crusaders at Hittin in northern
Palestine and recaptures Jerusalem. The Ayyubid
dynasty rules Palestine from Cairo.
1260
- Mamluks succeed Ayyubids, ruling Palestine
from Cairo; defeat Mongols at Battle of
'Ayn Jalut near Nazareth.
1291
- Mamluks capture final Crusader strongholds
of Acre
and Caesarea.
1516-1917
- Palestine incorporated into the Ottoman
Empire with its capital in Istanbul.
1832-1840
- Muhammad 'Ali Pasha of Egypt occupies
Palestine. Ottomans subsequently reassert
their rule.
1876-1877
- Palestinian deputies from Jerusalem attend
the first Ottoman Parliament in Istanbul,
elected under a new Ottoman Constitution.
1878
- The first modern Zionist agricultural
settlement of Petach Tiqwa established (click
here to learn more about Zionist and
its impact on the Palestinian people).
1882-1903
- First wave of 25,000 Zionist immigrants
enters Palestine, coming mainly from eastern
Europe.
1882
- Baron Edmond de Rothschild of Paris starts
financial backing for Jewish settlement
in Palestine.
1887-1888
- Palestine divided by Ottomans into the
districts (sanjaks) of Jerusalem, Nablus,
and Acre.
The first was attached directly to Istanbul,
the others to the wilayet of Beirut.
1896
- Theodor Herzl, an Austro-Hungarian Jewish
journalist and writer, publishes Der Judenstaat,
advocating establishment of a Jewish state
in Palestine or elsewhere.
1896
- Jewish Colonization Association, founded
in 1891 in London by German Baron Maurice
de Hirsch, starts aiding Zionist settlements
in Palestine.
1897
- First Zionist Congress in Switzerland
issues the Basle Program calling for the
establishment of a "home for the Jewish
people in Palestine." It also establishes
the World Zionist Organization (WZO) to
work to that end.
1900
- 1918 1901
- Jewish National Fund (JNF) set up by fifth
Zionist Congress in Basle to acquire land
for WZO; land acquired by JNF to be inalienably
Jewish, and exclusively Jewish labor to
be employed on it.
1904-1914
- Second wave of about 40,000 Zionist immigrants
increases Jewish population in Palestine
to about
6% of total. Since the inception of
Zionism it has been claiming that Palestinian
was an empty country, click
here to read our rebuttal to this argument.
1909
- Establishment of the first kibbutz, based
exclusively on Jewish labor. Tel Aviv founded
north of Jaffa.
1914 - World
War I starts.
1916, 30 January
Hussein-McMahon correspondence between Sharif
Husayn of Mecca (leader of the Arab Revolt
against the Ottomans) and Sir Henry McMahon
(British High Commissioner of Egypt) ends
in agreement for postwar independence and
unity of Arab provinces of Ottoman Empire.
16 May
Sykes-Picot Agreement secretly signed, dividing
Arab provinces of Ottoman Empire between Britain
and France. Agreement revealed by Bolsheviks
in December 1917.
June
Sharif Hussein proclaims Arab independence
from Ottomans. Arab Revolt against Istanbul
begins.
1917, 2 November Balfour
Declaration. British Secretary
of State Balfour pledges British support for
"a Jewish national home in Palestine."
One of the many problems with this declaration
is:
It referred to the Palestinians as
the "existing population" not even naming
them;
It stated that nothing shall be done
which may prejudice the civil and religious
rights of existing non-Jewish communities
in Palestine" an impossibility when you
try to form a homeland on someone else's
homeland;
A country that has no ownership of land
has no right to impose such a declaration.
Interestingly, the British considered granting
Uganda (another British colony at the time)
as a homeland to the Jews of Europe but was
dropped when the British citizens residing
in Uganda rejected the idea of another group
of people moving in large numbers along side
them.
1918, September
Palestine occupied by Allied forces under
British General Allenby.
30 October
World War I ends.
1919
- 1922 1919-1923
Third wave of over 35,000 Zionist immigrants
increases Jewish population in Palestine to
12% of total. Registered Jewish landownership
(1923) totals 3% of area of country.
1919, 27 January-10
February
First Palestinian National Congress in Jerusalem
sends memoranda to Paris Peace Conference
rejecting Balfour Declaration and demanding
independence.
28 August
Paris Peace Conference sends Commission of
Inquiry to Near East, led by U.S. commission
members Henry C. King and Charles Crane. England
and France decline to participate. Commission
recommends "serious modification" of idea
of "making Palestine distinctly a Jewish Commonwealth."
1920, April
Disturbances in Palestine; 5 Jews killed,
200 wounded. British appoint Palin Commission
of Inquiry .Commission report attributes troubles
to not fulfilling the promises of Arab independence
and fear of political and economic consequences
of Zionism.
25 April
Palestine Mandate assigned to Britain by Supreme
Council of San Remo Peace Conference.
May
British prevent Second Palestinian National
Congress from convening.
1 July
High Commissioner, Sir Herbert Samuel, an
Anglo-Jewish politician, inaugurates British
civilian administration.
December
Third Palestinian National Congress, meeting
in Haifa, elects Executive Committee, which
remains in control of Palestinian political
movement from 1920 to 1935.
1921, March
Founding of the Haganah, the Zionists' terrorist
organization organization.
1 May
Disturbances in Jaffa protesting large-scale
Zionist immigration; 46 Jews killed, 146 wounded.
British Haycraft Commission of Inquiry (October)
attributes disturbances to fears of Zionist
mass immigration.
8 May
Haj Amin al-Husayni appointed Mufti of Jerusalem.
May-June
Fourth Palestinian National Congress, convening
in Jerusalem, decides to send a Palestinian
delegation to London to explain the Palestinian
case against the Balfour
Declaration.
1922, 3 June
British colonial secretary Winston Churchill
issues White Paper excluding Transjordan from
scope of Balfour
Declaration. Ignoring political
criteria, White Paper authorizes Jewish immigration
according to "economic absorptive capacity"
of the country.
24 July
League of Nations Council approves Mandate
for Palestine.
August
Fifth Palestinian National Congress, meeting
in Nablus, agrees to economic boycott of Zionists
(see 1901 entry on JNF).
October -
First British census of Palestine shows population
of 757,182 -78% Muslim Arab, 11% Jewish, 9.6%
Christian Arab. It is often claimed that Palestine
was empty until Zionist Jews made the Palestinian
desert bloom.
1923
- 1931 1923, 29 September
British Mandate for Palestine comes officially
into force.
1924-1928
Fourth wave of 67,000 Zionist immigrants,
over 50% from Poland, increases Jewish population
of Palestine to 16% of total. Registered Jewish
landownership (1928) totals 4.2% of area of
country. Click
here to view a map illustrating
a breakdown of Palestinian-Zionist landownership
per district as of 1945.
1925 - Revisionist
Party, founded in Paris by Polish Zionist
Vladimir Jabotinsky, demands establishment
of Jewish state in Palestine and Transjordan
and stresses military aspects of Zionism.
October -
Sixth Palestinian National Congress convenes
in Jaffa.
1928, June
Seventh Palestinian National Congress convenes
in Jerusalem.
1929-1939
- Fifth wave of over 250,000 Zionist immigrants
increases Jewish population in Palestine to
30% of total. Registered Jewish landownership
(1939) totals 5.7% of area of country.
1929, August
Riots arise out of dispute between Jews and
Palestinians over claims to Wailing (Western)
Wall in Jerusalem, a site holy to Muslims
and Jews. In resulting clashes 133 Jews killed
and 339 wounded, 116 Palestinians killed and
232 wounded, the latter mainly by British
military .
October
General Palestinian conference meets in Jerusalem
to formulate position on Wailing Wall controversy.
1930, 14 January
League of Nations appoints international commission
to investigate legal status of Arabs and Jews
at Wailing Wall.
March
British Shaw Palestinian Commission of Inquiry
attributes 1929 disturbances to Palestinian
fears of Jewish immigration "not only as a
menace to their livelihood but as a possible
overlord of the future."
October
British Hope-Simpson report on land settlement,
immigration, and development in Palestine
concludes that there is not sufficient agricultural
land for substantially increased numbers of
Jewish settlers. British Colonial Secretary
, Lord Passfield, issues White Paper which
takes note of views of Hope-Simpson and Shaw
commissions of inquiry.
1931
Irgun Zvai Leumi (National Military Organization),
Irgun or IZL for short, founded by Revisionist
groups and dissidents from Haganah, advocates
a more militant policy against Palestinians.
Valdimir Jabotinsky is commander-in-chief.
14 February
British prime minister Ramsay MacDonald in
a letter to Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann
virtually retracts Passfield White Paper.
18 November
Second British census of Palestine shows population
of 1,035,154-73% Muslim Arab, 16.9% Jewish,
8.6% Christian Arab.
December Lewis French, British director of development
for Palestine, publishes report on "landless
Arabs," caused by Zionist colonization.
1932
- 1938 1933, 14 July
British Secretary of State issues statement
on resettlement of Palestinian farmers displaced
from land acquired by Zionists.
1935, October
Revisionists quit World Zionist Organization
(WZO) to form New Zionist Organization with
aim of "liberating" Palestine and Transjordan.
November
Shaykh 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam, Muslim cleric
from Haifa, leader of first Palestinian guerrilla
group fighting British policy in Palestine,
killed in action against British security
forces.
1936, 25 April
Leaders of Palestinian political parties form
Higher Arab Committee under Chairman Haj Amin
al-Husseini.
8 May
Conference of Palestinian National Committees
in Jerusalem calls for no taxation without
representation. Great Rebellion begins.
25 August
Lebanese guerrilla leader Fawzi al-Qawuqji
enters Palestine leading 150 volunteers from
Arab countries to help fight British.
11 November
Royal Commission headed by Lord Peel arrives
in Palestine.
1937, 18 January
Royal Commission leaves Palestine.
April
IZL/Irgun, linked to Revisionist movement
under Ze'ev Jabotinsky, reorganizes and advocates
armed attacks on Palestinians.
7 July Royal
(Peel) Commission report recommends
partitioning Palestine into Jewish state comprising
33% of country including Haifa, Galilee, and
coastal plain north of Isdud; Arab state in
rest of country (to become part of Transjordan);
and British mandatory enclaves including Jerusalem.
Part of Palestinian population to
be forcibly transferred, if necessary,
from Jewish state, click
here to learn how deeply the concept
of "transfer" (Ethnic Cleansing) is entrenched
in the Zionist theology.
23 July
Arab Higher Committee rejects Royal Commission
proposal and demands independent unitary Palestine
with protection of "legitimate Jewish and
other minority rights" and the safeguarding
of British interests. Rebellion intensifies.
September
Arab National Congress at Bludan, Syria, attended
by 450 delegates from Arab countries, rejects
partition proposal, demands end to Mandate,
a stop to Zionist immigration, and prohibition
of transfer of Palestinian lands to Zionist
ownership.
1 October
British dissolve Arab Higher Committee and
all Palestinian political organizations. Five
Palestinian leaders deported. Haj Amin al-Husseini
escapes to Lebanon.
11 November
British establish military courts to counter
Palestinian rebellion.
June
British officer Orde Wingate organizes Special
Night Squads of British and Haganah personnel
for operations against Palestinian villages.
18 October
British military commanders take over administration
from district commissioners to help suppress
rebellion. Reinforcements brought from England.
19 October
British recapture Old City of Jerusalem from
Palestinian rebels.
9 November
Report of British Woodhead technical commission
of inquiry (January-April 1938) declares impracticability
of Royal Commission's partition proposal.
British call for general conference on Palestine
in London attended by Arabs, Palestinians,
and Zionists.
1939
- 1946 1939, 7 February
London Conference starts.
27 March
London Conference ends without agreement.
22-23 May
British House of Commons votes 268 to 179
in favor of White Paper issued by Colonial
Secretary of State Malcolm MacDonald. White
Paper calls for conditional independence for
unitary Palestinian state after ten years;
admission of 15,000 Jewish immigrants annually
into Palestine for five years, with immigration
after that subject to "Arab acquiescence"
; protection of Palestinian land rights against
Zionist acquisition. British official estimates
of Palestinians killed or executed by British
military and police during Arab Rebellion
is over 2,000 for 1936 and 1938 alone. Total
for all years is estimated at 3,500-4,000.
About 500 Jews killed in same period.
1 September
World War II begins.
October
Stern Gang or Lochemay Herut Yisra'el (LEHI;
"Fighters for the Freedom of Israel") formed
by dissident IZL members led by Avraham Stern.
1940-1945
Arrival of over 60,000 Zionist immigrants,
including 20-25,000 who have entered the country
illegally (April 1939-December 1945), increases
Jewish population in Palestine to 31% of total.
Registered Jewish landownership rises to 6.0%
of area of country.
1940, 28 February
Land Transfers Regulations, suggested by 1939
White Paper to protect Palestinian land rights
against Zionist acquisition, enter into force.
1942, February
Avraham Stern killed by British police. It
should be noted that the Stern gang received
extensive financial and military support from
the Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy to terrorize
the British Mandate in Palestine. Click
here to learn more about the subject.
May
Biltmore Conference in New York attended by
Zionist leaders from U.S. and Palestine, urges
that "Palestine be established as a Jewish
commonwealth."
1943, November
Five-year limit on Jewish immigration (expiring
April 1944) extended so all 75,000 visas permitted
in 1939 White Paper can be filled.
1944, January
Stern Gang and IZL join to conduct terror
campaign against British.
6 November
Stern Gang murders Lord Moyne, British resident
minister of state, in Cairo.
1945, 8 May
End of World War in Europe.
September
Large-scale illegal Jewish immigration into
Palestine resumes under Haganah control.
13 November
British foreign secretary Ernest Bevin issues
White Paper announcing continued Jewish immigration
into Palestine after exhaustion of 1939 White
Paper quota.
1946, 6 March
Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry, proposed
in 1945 White Paper, arrives in Palestine.
May
Anglo-American Committee report estimates
size of Jewish armed forces at around 61-69,000
people (Haganah: 58-64,000; IZL: 3-5,000;
Stern: 2-300) and declares "private armies"
illegal. Recommends admission of 100,000 Jews
into Palestine and abolition of Land Transfers
Regulations. Palestinians strike in protest.
11-12 June
Arab League meeting in Bludan, Syria, adopts
secret resolutions warning Britain and U.S.
that disregard for Palestinian rights will
damage their oil and commercial interests
in Arab world.
July
British White Paper on terrorism in Palestine
accuses Haganah of cooperating with IZL and
Stern Gang in acts of sabotage and violence.
22 July
Ninety-one British, Palestinian, and Jewish
civil servants and visitors killed when IZL
blows up wing of King David Hotel in Jerusalem
housing British government secretariat.
31 July
Anglo-American Conference in London produces
Morrison-Grady Plan proposing federal scheme
to solve Palestine problem. Zionist and Palestinian
leaders reject the plan.
1947
After WWII, Britain turned Palestine over
to the United Nations, which resolved to partition
the country into two states (Resolution 181-Partition
Plan of 1947). Roughly 57% of Palestine was
to become a Jewish state, while the remaining
43% was to become a Palestinian state. The
Palestinians rejected this plan because (1)
they constituted about 65% of the population
and (2) Jewish land ownership amounted to
only 7% of the land of Palestine. The Zionists,
who were fighting to turn Palestine into a
Jewish state, accepted the partition while
the League of Arab States declared the partition
illegal.
26 January
London Round Table conference reopens.
7-10 February
British foreign secretary Ernest Bevin proposes
variant of Morrison-Grady Plan to London Conference
and Jewish Agency. Arab delegates in London
and Jewish Agency reject proposal.
18 February
Bevin announces submission of Palestine problem
to United Nations.
28 April-15 May
UN General Assembly special session on Palestine
problem leads to appointment of eleven-member
Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP).
8 September
Publication of UNSCOP report. Majority of
members recommends partition, minority recommends
federal solution.
16-19 September
Arab League denounces UNSCOP partition recommendation,
and appoints Technical Military Committee
to supervise Palestinian defense needs.
26 September
Arthur Creech Jones, British colonial secretary,
announces Britain's decision to end Palestine
Mandate.
29 September
Arab Higher Committee rejects partition.
2 October
Jewish Agency accepts partition.
7-15 October
Arab League meets at Aley, Lebanon. Iraqi
General Isma'il Safwat, chairman of Technical
Committee, warns of dangers posed by Zionism
at end of Mandate and urges Arab states to
mobilize their utmost force and efforts to
counter Zionist intentions." One million pounds
sterling allocated to Technical Military Committee.
29 October
Britain says it will leave Palestine in six
months if no settlement reached.
27 November
Report by Safwat warns of virtual impossibility
of overcoming Zionist forces with irregulars;
urges prompt Arab action in organizing military
force; advocates training Palestinians to
defend themselves.
29 November
UN General Assembly recommends variant of
UNSCOP partition plan allocating 56.5% of
Palestine to Jewish state and 43% to Arab
state with international enclave around
Jerusalem; 33 votes for, 13 against, 10
abstentions. Arab representatives walk out
(Click
here to read more why Arabs rejected
the U.N. partition plan).
Keep in mind that the United Nations General Assembly Partition Plan should have been taken as a mere recommendation as the General Assembly is not a governing body (it is not International Court of Justice) and any resolution passed by them can not be legally enforced. Consider the countless resolutions they passed against Israel and their treatment of Palestinians. Why have those resolutions not been enforced as the Partition Plan was?
30 November
Haganah calls up Jews in Palestine aged 17-25
to register for military service.
December
Arab League organizes Arab Liberation Army
(ALA), a voluntary force of Arab irregulars
under guerrilla leader Fawzi al-Qawuqji to
help Palestinians resist partition.
2 December
Palestinians start three-day strike protesting
UN Partition Resolution. Intercommunal clashes
leave 8 Jews and 6 Palestinians dead.
8 December
Britain recommends to UN that Palestine Mandate
be terminated on 15 May 1948 and independent
Jewish and Palestinian states be established
two weeks later.
8-17 December
Arab League Political Committee meeting in
Cairo declares partition illegal and resolves
to provide 10,000 rifles, 3,000 volunteers
(including 500 Palestinians) and a further
1,000,000 pounds sterling to Technical Military
Committee.
15 December
British announce intention to hand over
policing in Tel Aviv-Petach Tiqwa area to
Jews and in Jaffa
to Palestinians.
17 December
Jewish Agency Executive reports that American
Jews will be asked for $250 million to help
Jewish community in Palestine.
21 December-late
March 1948
Haganah and IZL attack villages and Bedouin
settlements of coastal plain north of Tel
Aviv in first coastal "clearing" operation.
31 December
Haganah and IZL paramilitary gangs perpetrate
Balad al-Shaykh (Haifa) massacre, in which
more than 60 civilians are murdered.
December 1947-January
1948
Arab Higher Committee organizes 275 local
committees for defense of Palestinian towns
and villages.
1948
In an effort of the Zionists to expand over
the area allotted to them in the 1947 Partition
Plan, war broke out.
January
Palestinian guerrilla leader 'Abd al-Qadir
al-Husseini secretly returns to Palestine after
ten-year exile to organize resistance to partition.
8 January
First contingent of 330 ALA volunteers arrives
in Palestine.
10 January
ALA assault on Jewish settlement of Kefar
Szold repulsed with help of British.
14 January
Haganah concludes arms deal with Czechoslovakia
for $12,280,000 worth of arms including 24,500
rifles, 5,000 light machine guns, 200 medium
machine guns, 54 million rounds of ammunition,
25 Meserschmitts. By end of Mandate at least
10,740 rifles, 1,200 machine guns, 26 field
guns, and 11 million rounds of ammunition
arrive in Palestine. Rest of arms arrive by
end of May.
16 January
British report to UN estimates 1,974 people
killed or injured in Palestine from 30 November
1947-10 January 1948.
20 January
British administration announces that predominantly
Jewish or Palestinian areas will be gradually
handed over to local majority group in every
area concerned.
21 and 28 January Second and third contingents of 360
and 400 ALA irregulars arrive in Palestine.
January-March
JNF leaders encourage evictions from villages
of Haifa area Haganah attacks villages near
Lake al-Hula. Palmach attacks Negev Bedouin.
16 February
ALA mounts unsuccessful attack on Jewish settlement
of Tirat Zvi north of Baysan.
18 February
Haganah calls up men and women aged 25-35
for military service.
24 February
U.S. delegate to UN says Security Council
role should be to keep peace in Palestine,
not enforce partition. Syrian delegate suggests
appointing committee to explore possible Jewish
Agency-Arab Higher Committee agreement.
March
Transjordanian prime minister Tawfiq Abu al-Huda
secretly meets British foreign secretary Bevin.
They agree that Transjordanian forces will
enter Palestine at end of Mandate but will
restrict themselves to area of Arab state
outlined in partition Plan. (Click
here to read our response to the
Zionist claim that seven Arab armies attempt
to annihilate the newly emerging "Jewish State")
5-7 March
Qawuqji enters Palestine and assumes command
of ALA units in Jinin-Nablus-Tulkarm triangle
within area allotted to Arab state.
6 March
Haganah declares general mobilization.
10 March
British House of Commons votes to end Mandate
on 15 May. Plan Dalet finalized by Haganah.
Plan provides for military conquest of area
allotted by UN Partition Plan to Jewish state
and of substantial Palestinian territories
beyond this state's boundaries. Plan contains
a series of interlocking operations.
18 March
President Truman secretly receives Chaim Weizman
and pledges support for declaration of Jewish
state on May 15.
19-20 March
U.S. delegate asks UN Security Council to
suspend action on partition plan and to convene
General Assembly special session to work on
a trusteeship plan. Arabs accept limited trusteeship
and truce if Jews also accept. Jewish Agency
rejects trusteeship.
25 March
President Truman calls for immediate truce
and says U.S. will share responsibility for
temporary trusteeship.
30 March-15 May
Second coastal "clearing" operation carried
out by Haganah Alexandroni brigade and other
units. Attacks and expulsions drive out almost
all Palestinian communities from coastal area
from Haifa to Jaffa prior to British withdrawal.
1 April
Delivery of first consignment of Czech arms
deal: Ship "Nora" arrives in Haifa from Yugoslavia
with 4,500 rifles, 200 light machine guns,
5 million rounds of ammunition. Two hundred
rifles, 400 machine guns and further ammunition
ferried in by airplane. UN Security Council
resolutions call for special session of General
Assembly and agree to U.S. proposal for truce
to be arranged through Jewish Agency and Arab
Higher Committee.
4 April
Haganah launches Plan Dalet.
4-15 April
Battle of Mishmar ha-'Emeq: ALA repulsed by
Haganah from Jewish settlement of Mishmar
ha-'Emeq. Haganah, Carmeli, Alexandroni, and
Palmach units occupy villages in Marj ibn
'Amir.
6-15 April
Operation Nachshon: In first operation of
Plan Dalet Haganah Giv'ati Brigade and other
units capture villages along Tel Aviv-Jerusalem
road from local Palestinian militia.
8 April
'Abd al-Qadir al-Husseini, charismatic Palestinian
militia commander, Jerusalem district, is
killed leading counterattack to recover al-Qastal
village.
9 April
IZL and Stern Gangs massacre some 250 inhabitants
in village of Deir Yasin near Jerusalem.
12 April
General Zionist Council decides to establish
independent state in Palestine on 16 May.
13-20 April
Operation Har'el under Plan Dalet launched
at conclusion of Operation Nachshon. Villages
along Jerusalem road attacked and demolished.
All subsequent Haganah operations until 15
May 1948 undertaken within framework of Plan
Dalet.
15 April-25 May
Operation Yiftach: Palmach captures Safad
from ALA and local militia (9-10 May). Attacks
and psychological warfare used to empty villages
of eastern Galilee and Galilee panhandle.
Operation Matate (Broom) drives out Bedouin
and villagers from area south of Rosh Pinna
to Jordan River.
16-17 April
Haganah Golani brigade and Palmach units capture
Tiberias as it is evacuated by British. Palestinian
inhabitants flee.
17 April
Security Council resolution calls for military
and political truce.
20 April
U.S. submits Palestine trusteeship plan to
UN.
21 April
Operation Misparayim (meaning scissor): British
forces suddenly withdraw from Haifa precipitating
all-out Haganah dawn offensive against city's
Palestinian population. Offensive accompanied
by heavy mortar shelling of Palestinian residential
quarters.
22 April
Resistance of local Palestinian militia in
Haifa collapses. Haifa's Palestinian population
flees under combined Haganah shelling and
ground offensives.
25 April
IZL starts massive mortar shelling of Jaffa's
residential quarters; simultaneously launches
ground offensive to cut off northern Manshiyeh
quarter from rest of city.
26-30 April
Haganah Har'el and Etzioni brigades launch
Operation Yevussi in and around Jerusalem;
attack East Jerusalem residential quarter
of Shaykh Jarrah but are forced to hand it
over to British; capture West Jerusalem residential
district of Qatamon from Palestinian irregulars.
Flight of Palestinian inhabitants.
27 April-5 May
Operation Chametz: Haganah launches major
ground offensive against eastern Jaffa suburbs
and neighboring villages to cut off city from
its hinterland. Some 50,000 civilians flee
under combined IZL and Haganah attacks.
30 April
All Palestinian quarters in West Jerusalem
occupied by Haganah and residents driven out.
1 May
The Zionists forces occupied and massacred
more than 70 civilians from 'Ayn al-Zaytun
(Safad).
3 May
175-200,000 Palestinian refugees reported
to have fled from areas taken by Zionists.
8-16 May
Haganah Har'el and Giv'ati brigades undertake
Operation Makkabi. Capture villages on al-Ramla
-Latrun road.
9 May-1 June
Operation Barak: Strikes by Haganah Giv'ati
and Negev brigades south and West of al-Ramla.
10-15 May
Golani brigade occupies Baysan, attacks villages
of Baysan Valley south of Lake Tiberias.
12-14 May
Arrival of second and third Czech arms consignments
for Haganah: 5,000 rifles, 1,200 machine guns,
6 million rounds of ammunition.
13 May
Arab Legion, ALA, and local militia attack
and capture Jewish settlements of Etzion bloc,
retaliating for attacks on Hebron road. Jaffa
formally surrenders to Haganah.
13-21 May
Operation Ben-Ami: Carmeli brigade occupies
Acre and coastal area north of city .
14 May
Haganah launches Operation Qilshon (Pitchfork),
occupying strategic areas in Jerusalem evacuated
by British and taking Palestinian residential
quarters outside Old City from Arab irregulars.
Haganah launches Operation Schfifon to take
Old City of Jerusalem.
State of Israel proclaimed in Tel Aviv at
4:00 P.M.
President Truman recognizes state of Israel.
15 May
British Mandate ends. Declaration of State
of Israel comes into effect.
15-17 May
Lebanese regulars cross border and temporarily
retake villages of Malikiyya and Qadas from
Haganah, but are forced out of fortress of
Nabi Yusha'.
15-28 May
Transjordanian Arab Legion troops cross River
Jordan and move towards Jerusalem capturing
Jewish settlements of Atarot and Newe Ya'aqov
north of city (17 May). In Jerusalem, Legion
retakes Sheikh Jarrah
quarter (16 May), fails to capture stronghold
in Notre Dame monastery (17-25 May), and takes
control of Jewish Quarter of Old City (28
May).
On the 23th of May 1948, al-Tantura was perpetrated
against 250 civilians and POWs.
15 May-4 June
Iraqi units cross Jordan River, are repulsed
from Crusader fortress of Belvoir , and besiege
settlement of Gesher for a week. Iraqi regulars
move into Nablus-Jinin- Tulkarm triangle 24
May). Haganah advances on Jenin
, evicting villagers (28-31 May); it attacks
and briefly occupies Jinin before being repulsed
(3-4 June).
15 May-7 June
Egyptian regular troops cross border, move
up coast to Isdud and capture Jewish settlements
of Yad Mordechai (24 May) and Nitzanim (7
June) in Negev. Another column of Egyptian
irregulars moves to Bethlehem linking up with
Arab Legion. In battle with IDF (21-25 May),
Jewish settlement of Ramat Rachel south of
Jerusalem changes hands several times and
is finally retained by Jews.
16 May-10 June
Syrian columns advance over border and temporarily
capture Jewish settlement of Zeniach (18-20
May), are repulsed from twin settlements of
Degania (20 May), and capture settlement of
Mishmar ha-Yarden (10 June). Syrians, Lebanese,
and ALA recapture Malikiyya (6 June).
16-30 May
IDF Operation Ben-Nun: Israeli Sheva' and
other brigades fail to capture al-Latrun from
Arab Legion in attempt to open Jaffa -Jerusalem
road, but occupy villages in vicinity.
20 May
UN Security Council appoints Count Folke Bernadotte
as its mediator in Palestine.
22 May
UN Security Council resolution calls for ceasefire.
9-10 June
IDF Operation Yoram, launched against Arab
legion by Har'el and Yiftach brigades, fails
to capture al-Latrun.
11 June-8 July
First Truce.
28-29 June
Count Bernadotte suggests economic, military,
and political union of Transjordan and Palestine
containing Arab and Jewish states: Negev and
central Palestine to go to Arabs; Western
Galilee to Jews; Jerusalem to be part of Arab
state with administrative autonomy for Jews;
Haifa and Jaffa to be free ports and Lydda
free airport. Rejected by both sides.
7 July
Security Council calls for prolongation of
truce.
7-18 July
IDF Operation Dani: Capture of Lydda and al-Ramla
from local militia. Population of both cities
expelled. Three or four IDF brigades occupy
villages along Jerusalem- Jaffa road and cluster
of villages east of Jaffa. Yiftach brigade's
assault on Arab Legion in al-Latrun (17 July)
ends with Second Truce.
8-14 July
IDF Operation Dekel: Carmeli and Sheva' brigades
push east and south from Acre, capture Nazareth
from ALA under Qawuqji and occupy Lower Galilee.
8-11 July
IDF Operation An-Far: Giv'ati brigade, moving
against Egyptians, empties villages south
of al-Ramla in an arc between Hebron hills
and coast.
9-18 July
IDF Carmeli Brigade fails to recapture the
Zionist settlement of Mishmar ha-Yarden, south
of Lake Tiberias, that had been occupied by
Syrian troops.
15 July
UN Security Council resolution calls on governments
and authorities concerned to issue indefinite
ceasefire orders to their forces in Palestine
to take effect within three weeks.
17 July
IDF Operation Qedem against Old City of Jerusalem
is repulsed.
18 July-15 October
Second Truce.
24-26 July
IDF Operation Shoter: Carmeli, Alexandroni,
and Golani brigades attack and capture three
villages of Little Trianglesouth of Haifa.
16 August-end of September early October Negev
and Yiftach brigades attack and expel Bedouins
and inhabitants of villages in Negev.
24-28 August
IDF Operation Nikayon (Cleansing): Giv'ati
Brigade occupies coastal area west of Yibna
and north of Isdud.
16 September
Report by UN mediator Count Bernadotte proposes
new partition of Palestine: Arab state to
be annexed to Transjordan and to include Negev,
al-Ramla and Lydda; Jewish state in all of
Galilee; internationalization of Jerusalem;
return and compensation of refugees. Rejected
by Arab League and Israel.
17 September
UN mediator Count Bernadotte murdered in Jerusalem
by Stern Gang. Replaced by his American deputy
Ralph Bunche.
15 October-9 November
IDF Operations Yo'av and ha-Har: Negev, Giv'ati,
and Yiftach units move against Egyptians to
capture Beersheba, Isdud, Majdal, and coastal
strip as far as Yad Mordechai, and villages
of Hebron Hills. Har'el brigade captures southern
Jerusalem corridor.
29-31 October
IDF Operation Hiram: Upper Galilee pocket,
held by Qawuqji's forces, occupied and emptied
by Giv'ati, Oded, and Sheva' brigade troops.
Tens of thousands flee. Israeli forces move
into southern Lebanon as far as Litani River.
On the 29th of October 1948, the IDF commits
the famous Safsaf (Safad) massacre in which
more than 60 civilians are murdered.
November
IDF Har'el Brigade expels several communities
in Jerusalem corridor along border with Transjordanian
forces. 4 November UN Security Council resolution
calls for withdrawal of forces to positions
occupied prior to 14 October and establishment
of permanent truce lines.
Second week November-mid
1949
IDF expels inhabitants from villages 5-15
km inside Lebanese border, followed by expulsions
from other Galilee villages.
22 December-6 January
1949
Operation Horev launched to drive Egyptians
out of southern coastal strip and Negev. Asluj
and al-'Awja captured. Israeli troops move
into Sinai until British pressure forces withdrawal.
Golani and Har'el brigades attack on Rafah
ended by ceasefire (7 January).
27 December
IDF Alexandroni brigade's attack on isolated
Egyptian forces in Faluja pocket is repulsed.
1949
The 1948 War eventually gave way to the 1949
Armistice Agreements. Israel had expanded
to encompass nearly 78% of Palestine, far
more than the 57% allotted to them in the
1947 Partition Plan. The remaining 22% was
made up of the West Bank and Gaza.
24 February
Israeli-Egyptian Armistice: Egypt keeps coastal
strip Gaza Rafah and evacuates Faluja pocket;
Asluj-al-'Awja area demilitarized.
End of February
IDF units intimidate 2-3,000 villagers into
leaving Faluja
pocket in violation of Israeli-Egyptian
Armistice Agreement.
March
IDF Negev and Golani brigades complete occupation
of Negev as far as Umm Rashrash/Eilat.
23 March
Israeli-Lebanese Armistice: Frontier of Mandate
Palestine accepted; Israel withdraws from
most of Lebanese territory.
3 April
Israeli-Jordanian Armistice: Jordan takes
over Iraqi-held Nablus-Jinin- Tulkarm triangle
but is forced to cede area around
Wadi 'Ara; Israel controls Chadera-'Afula
road; existing status quo in Jerusalem accepted
by IDF and Arab Legion.
20 July
Syrian-Israeli Armistice: demilitarized zones
established around 'En Gev and Dardara (including
Mishmar ha-Yarden).
1967
- 2004
Originating from Israeli encroachments on Arab owned lands, the 1967 war broke out between Israel and its Arab neighbors as Israel launched a blitzkrieg against the Egyptian air force 2 days before the Egyptian Vice President was to visit the United States.
Israel initially claimed their attack was retaliatory to an Egyptian attack. Within a month however, Israel admitted as to launching the first strike.
Although a number of Arab countries were involved in the war, Israel's claim of feeling threatened has been widely questioned. A number of senior Israeli military and political figures have subsequently admitted that Israel was not faced with a genuine threat of attack, and instead, deliberately chose war.
Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli army chief of staff during the war, later stated: "I do not believe that Nasser wanted war. The two divisions he sent into Sinai on May 14 would not have been enough to unleash an offensive against Israel. He knew it and we knew it.
General Mattityahu Peled, a member of Israel's general staff in 1967, opined that "the thesis according to which the danger of genocide weighed on us in June 1967, and that Israel struggled for its physical existence is only a bluff born and developed after the war."
Menachem Begin, not yet prime minister but a member of the Israeli cabinet, allowed that: "The Egyptian army concentrations in the Sinai approaches do not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us. We must be honest with ourselves. We decided to attack him."
Consequent to the war, Israel took over the West Bank and Gaza including East Jerusalem, thereby taking control of 100% of the land of Palestine. For the last 60 years, Israel has maintained a harsh military occupation over the Palestinian population. In addition, there are hundreds of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, all of which are illegal under international law.
1982
Lebanon War 6 June, 1982
Israel invades and occupies southern Lebanon.
1 September, 1982
Under international guarantees of safety, the PLO leaves Lebanon as a result of tremendous civilian casualties by Israel. It is estimated that in the first 2 weeks alone, 15,000 civilians were killed by Israeli bombs.
From the standpoint of Israel, the invasion led to minimal success having only removed the PLO presence from South Lebanon and destroying the South Lebanon infrastructure.
First
Intifadah (Uprising) 1987 December
Following and Israeli Army truck intentionally running into a group of Palestinian youth, killing 4 and injuring 7 in the Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza, a national uprising began against the occupation consisting of daily riots
18 December
Israel troops kill two and injure 20 Muslims as they leave a Friday religious service. Israeli troops then enter Shifa Hospital in Gaza beating nurses and doctors and dragging off injured Palestinians.
Televised beatings and killings of unarmed Palestinians by Israeli troops bring protest worldwide.
By the end of the intifadah 1,283 Palestinians were killed, 130,472 injured, 481 expelled, 22,088 held without trial, 2,533 houses demolished and 184,257 Palestinian trees were uprooted.
December
United Nations Security Council votes 14-0-1 to "strongly deplore [Israel's] policies and practices which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories."
December
United States urges Israel to use non-lethal riot control measures
22 December
United States passed provisions expanding aid to Israel by refinancing a $9 billion debt saving Israel $2 billion. In addition their annual $3 billion in grant "aid" was granted with an additional $3 million.
19 January 1988
Israeli Defense Minister Rabin enacts a new policy of "broken bones" to suppress the intifadah.
February
Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger advises Jewish leaders that Israel should ban the media from the Occupied Territories, similar to what South Africa did during the apartheid so as to not allow the world awareness to the tragedies taking place.
August 1993
Israel and the PLO begin secret meetings in Oslo with Norway acting as mediator.
Oslo
Accords 13 September 1993
Oslo Accords (having been finalized in August) signed in Washington DC ending the Intifadah and forming a framework for future relations between the parties.
PLO recognizes Israel's right to exist and Israel affirms the Palestinian right to self government with the plan that Israel withdraw from the territories they illegally occupy. Needless to say, Israel never honored their side of the deal.
1995
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin assassinated by an Israeli Jew opposed to the Oslo Accords.
Wye
River memorandum November 1998
Named that because it was negotiated at Wye River, Maryland, these meetings took place to restore a breakdown in the talks of the Oslo Accords and restore promises not kept by the Israelis.
Deal almost falls through on the last day of negotiations when Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu asked US President Bill Clinton to release Jonathan Pollard, a Jewish American naval intelligence officer who had been serving a life sentence for giving classified information to Israel.
1999
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu suspends Wye River Agreement (once again reinforcing the fact that Israel has no intention to make peace)
Al
Aqsa Provocation 28 September 2000
Politically motivated, Israeli Opposition leader Ariel Sharon, surrounded by his bodyguards and hundreds of Israeli riot police go to the Al Aqsa mosque fully aware such an act would result in violence as the Palestinians viewed such an act as a provocation
Second
Intifadah (Al Aqsa Intifadah) 29 September 2000-Present
After Sharon's incursion on Al Aqsa mosque, the second uprising began, often referred to as Al Aqsa Intifadah
Over 4,500 Palestinians killed and 1,000 Israelis to date.
25 January 2006-Present
Palestine Legislative Council elections held under the watchful eye of international observers whereby Hamas won the majority of the 74 seats.
Western leaders, by direction of the United States attempts to starve out Hamas as illegitimate despite their being democratically elected.
Footnotes
i Le Monde, February 29, 1968, p. 4.
ii Le Monde, June 3, 1972, p. 4.
iii "Excerpts from Begin Speech at National Defense College," The New York Times, August 11, 1982, p. A6.
