Introduction

    The part of the world that is home to three of the world's major religions, that more than half of people on the planet follow, is an area about the size of the state of New Jersey known as the Holy Land. Stretching from the Mediterranean Sea on the west to the River Jordan on the east, this parcel has been called the most fought-over land in history.

    Our series examines the history of the region known today as Israel and The Palestinian Territories and looks at why the volility that began thousands of years ago continues.

    Timeline

    Previous

    • Hamas Wins Election

      In 2006 Hamas won the Palestinian legistlative election in a landslide, but their internal political parties couldn't agree on sharing power. Shortly after, the territories were split, with Hamas ruling the Gaza strip and Fatah the West Bank.

    • Palestinian Movement Divided

      Despite the internal divide and a lack of peace talks, in 2011 The Palestinian authority leader Mahmoud Abbas asked the United Nations for statehood -- recognition as an independent nation by the international world.

    • Arab Spring

      Set off at the end of 2010, a wave of demonstrations and protests have led to the replacement of leaders in the countries surrounding Israel and Palestine.

    • Cease-fire Holds

      After an escalation of rocket fire from Gaza towards Israel, the Israelis retaliated with airstrikes designed to kill Hamas leaders. A tentative cease-fire was established on November 21st, 2012.

    • The Diaspora Begins

      After the death of King Solomon, who built the first great temple in Jerusalem, the kingdom divided. Foreign invasions and the destruction of the temple led the Jewish people to leave what the Old Testament says is the homeland they were promised.

    • Ottoman Rule

      The land changed hands often in the years that followed the destruction of the temple, but in 1516 the Ottoman Empire took over, ruling the region for 400 years.

    • End of World War I

      During the first part of the 20th Century, Arabs made up 90% of the population of the region. However, after World War I and the defeat of the Ottoman Empire, Britain took over.

    • Israel Established

      After the murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust, the newly formed United Nations pushed the idea of establishing a Jewish Nation in The Holy Land. In May of 1948, Israel became a country.

    • Israel's War of Independence

      Members of The Arab league refused to accept the UN plan that created the state of Israel. Their forces marched into the new country the day after it was created, but by November a cease-fire was established. The war officially ended in 1949.

    • Six Day War

      Despite controlling about 80% of Palestine since 1949, intermittent clashes and terrorist attacks were frequent. In 1967, tensions led the Six-day war. It highlighted the strength of Israel's armed forces and gave them control of 100% of Palestine.

    • Egypt and Syria Attack

      On October 6th, 1973, the Yom Kippur War began when Egypt and Syria launched an attack against Israel on the holiest day of the year in the Jewish calendar. Though Israel was able to repel the attacks, it led to a willingness to negotiate on both sides.

    • Egypt & Israel Peace

      In 1978, U.S. President Carter invited President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin to meet at Camp David, leading to a framework for peace between Israel and Egypt. The agreed upon peace treaty was signed in March of 1979.

    • Palenstinian Protests

      By 1987, ongoing Israeli settlement and occupation of The West Bank and Gaza Strip led to the first Palestinian Intifada.

    • Oslo Peace Accords

      Following successful cooperation during The Gulf War, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) signed the Oslo Accords in 1993, a prelude to a treaty designed to establish a Palestinian state.

    • Oslo Two

      A second agreement was signed in 1995, marking an end to negotiations between Israel and the PLO and allowing leadership to move to occupied territories in exchange for an end to the use of terrorism.

    • Second Intifada

      Despite hopes for peace, in 2000 Palestinians militants rose up again with more suicide attacks. The violence was met by Israel with rockets and assassinations.

    • Separation Wall

      Israel began construction on a barrier wall along The West Bank in 2002. It is a network of fences and concrete walls with checkpoints designed to prevent suicide bombers from entering Israel.

    • Roadmap To Peace

      In late April of 2003, the U.S. and Russian published a step-by-step timetable leading to a Palestinian state. The first steps were contingent on an end to Palestinian violence as well as Israeli settlement activity.

    • Arafat Dies

      PLO leader and critical player in the creation of a Palestinian state as well as peace talks, Yasser Arafat died shortly after becoming ill in November of 2004. His death led to a divide within the Palestinian movement.

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