1882

Small numbers of Zionish settlers fleeing European anti-Semtism begin arriving in Palestine.

1894

November — Jewish artillary officer Alfred Deryfus is falsely convicted of treason in France. The anti-Semitism surrounding the case convicnes Hungarian Jewish journalist Theordore Herzl of the need for a Jewish state.

1896

Herzyl publishes "Der Judenstaat" (in english, "The Jewish State"), which becomes the founding manifesto of the Zionist Movement.

1897

First Zionist Congress is held in Basel, Switzerland. It articulates the goal of creating "for the Jewish people a home in Palestine secured by public law."

1913

Arab Congress in Paris demands self-gorvernment from the Ottoman Empire. Palesinians begin to organize anti-Zionest groups.

1914

June 28 — World War I begins.

1916

The Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire begins. Brittain promises independence to the Arab people, but secretly negotiates the Sykes-Picor Agreement with France.

1917

November 2 — British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issues the Balfour Declaration, promising the ZIonists a "national home" in Palestine.

The bolshevik party leads the victorious Russian Revolution. The new socialist government publishses the secret treaties signed by the ousted cazrist government, including Sykes-Picot.

1918

August — U.S. President Woodrow Wilson writes to US Zionist leader Rabbi Stephen S. Wise expressing support for the Zionist movement.

1919

The General Syrian Congress, with delegates from present-day Palestine, Levanon and Syriai, unanimously repudiates the Syke-Pico Agreement.

1920

Britian secures a mandate over Palestine in the aftermath of World War I. Riots erupt in Jerusalem.

1923

Vladimir Jabotinsky publishes "The Iron Wall" arguing that the Zionist project can only succeed through the use of overwhelming force.

1947

November — without consulting the Palestinians, the United Nations votes to partition Palestine. Was starts in Palestine between Zionists and Palestinian Arabs.

1948

May 15 — British troops withdraw from Palestine as British rule of the area concludes. The state of Israel is proclaimed. Arabl League troops intervien on behalf of the Palestinians. At this date, three hundred thousand Palestinians are already in exile.

December 11 — UN Resolution 194 passes. It states that all refugees must be allowed to return and compensated for damages suffered. Israel does not comply.

1949

January — A ceasefire is reached. Israel occupies 80 percent of Palestine. Seven hudred-fifty thousand Palestinians are refugees.

1964

The Palestin Liberation Ogranization (PLO) is founded in Cairo.

1967

June 5 — The Six-Day War begins. Israel attacks Egypt, Syria and Jodan, and defeats them as Israeli forces capture East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula. Sinai was eventually returned to Egypt. The occupation of these territories has remained the dominant issue in the Israel-Palestine conflict. At this point U.S. imperialists are convinced that Israel will be an indispensable ally against Arab nationalism.

The Palestin Liberation Ogranization (PLO) is founded in Cairo.