Israel: A Quest for Peace Timeline

Segment Number 1
1917
November 2	Balfour Declaration issued: declared that the British government favored "the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people." Britain defeats Turkish army in Palestine; occupies area.
1918-48
	Great Britain granted rule over Palestine under terms of the League of Nations Mandate to create a Jewish "Home Land" in Palestine.
1936-1939
April 15, 1936	Arab Revolt in Palestine results in terror attacks on Jews throughout Palestine. In three years, hundreds of Jews are murdered. British troops and Arab forces clash.
1937
July	British Peel Commission Report recommends dividing (partitioning) Palestine between Jews and Arabs because their claims are irreconcilable.
August 20	Zionist Congress agrees to partition with revisions.
1938
March	Joint Conference called by Britain to discuss partition of Palestine; Jews accept; Arabs refuse to talk to the Jews.
1939
May 17	British White Paper limits Jewish immigration and land purchases in Palestine. Rejected by Jews and Arabs.
September 1	Germany invades Poland. World War II begins.
1944
September	British allow formation of Jewish Brigade; approximately 15,000 soldiers fight in Italy.
1945
May 8	German surrender ends World War II in Europe. 5,820,000 Jews killed in Holocaust.
July 26	Labor Party wins election in Britain; Clement Attlee is Prime Minister; Ernest Bevin, Foreign Minister. Favors Arabs. Jewish troops in Europe (Jewish Brigade) and Jewish Agency assist Holocaust survivors to flee to Israel.
August 31	British reject U.S. call to allow 100,000 Jewish survivors into Palestine.
1946
January	Britain closes Jewish immigration; intercepts and turns back ships of fleeing Jewish refugees and survivors. Britain sends Jews to camps in Cyprus. Irgun, Lechi and the Haganah intensify attacks on British occupation forces.
May 1	Anglo-American Committee recommends 100,000 Jewish survivors be allowed into Palestine. Rejected by British government.
July 22	Irgun, under leader Menachem Begin, bombs British headquarters at the King David Hotel: 76 killed.
December 22	Zionist Congress elects David Ben-Gurion as leader of the Jewish Agency and calls for build-up of the Haganah (underground Jewish army).
1947
	Britain asks United Nations to decide future of Palestine. U.N. sets up a special committee for Palestine.(UNSCOP)
	Golda Meir meets with King Abdullah in an attempt to avert war. The King breaks his promises to hold back the Jordanian Legion from an attack against the Jews.
August	U.N. committee (UNSCOP) recommends partition.
November 29	U.N. General assembly votes to accept recommendation for partition.
	Arabs mount bloody attacks on Jews across all of Palestine. Plan coordinated military attack to block U.N. partition and kill Jews.
1948
January 17	Arabs kill and mutilate 35 Jews near Jerusalem.
April 19	Irgun attack on Deir Yasin, many Arabs die; later, 200,000 Palestinian Arabs flee for nearby Arab states.
Segment Number 2
May 14	Israel declares independence: proclaims the establishment of the State of Israel. Head of provisional government is David Ben-Gurion. United States recognized the State of Israel. Russia follows on May 18. Five Arab armies (Syrian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Egypt, Lebanese) invade Israel from north, east and south to destroy the new state.
May 18	Battle for Jerusalem begins; Jordan Legion, under British command, attacks Jews. The Jewish quarter falls and its defenders are taken prisoners.
May 19-20	Egyptian army slowed at Yad Mordechai south of Tel Aviv; Syrian invasion forces stopped at Kibbutz Degania in Galilee.
May 20	U.N. appoints Count Bernadette as mediator. Presents highly pro-Arab solution.
May 22	Egyptian forces enter Bethlehem.
May 24	Egyptians sweep past Yad Mordechai advance north along coast to Ashdod. Prepare for attack on Tel Aviv.
May 28	Old City of Jerusalem falls to Jordanians. Jerusalem cut off when roads are blocked.
June 11	Temporary four week truce agreed upon; to go into effect in four days.
June 11-14	New road to Jerusalem built through mountains. Relief convoys bring food and water to starving Jerusalemites and replacement troops.
June 20	Irgun brings in a ship carrying volunteers and arms the Altalena, at Ben-Gurion's command the ship was attacked and sunk. The Israel defense force was established.
June	Israel purchases arms from Czechoslovakia, buys airplanes, begins building a modern Air Force and navy. Using the truce Israeli troops undergo intense training.
July 8	Fighting renewed. Israelis attempt to relieve siege of Jerusalem. and the Galilee; Egyptians launch massive drive for Tel Aviv.
July 13	Israeli army victories turn back Egyptian threat to Tel Aviv and hold open new route to Jerusalem.
July 16	Jordan agrees to cease-fire in Jerusalem. Israel captures Nazareth.
July 18	Arab League and Israel agree to new cease-fire.
August 15	Fighting renewed when Egypt attacks relief convoy sent to bring food to cut-off Israeli settlements in Negev.
September 17	U.N. mediator Count Bernadotte is assassinated by Lechi fighters.
October 21	Israeli forces capture Beersheba in Negev.
October 31	Palestine-Lebanese army cut off in north retreats to Lebanon; Galilee region falls to Israeli forces. Arabs remaining in Galilee choose to become Israeli citizens.
November 2	Harry Truman re-elected U.S. President.
1949
January 3-5	Israeli force raids 35 miles southward, penetrating deep into the Sinai. Israeli air force shoots down 5 British fighters sent against the Sinai expedition. A major part of the Egyptian army is trapped in the Faluja pocket. Cease-fire.
January 13	U.N. sponsors armistice talks on Rhodes.
January 25	First election for Israeli parliament (Knesset); Labor wins vote.
February 16	Knesset elects Dr. Chaim Weizmann Israel's first President.
February 23	Armistice signed between Israel and Egypt.
March 10	First government formed: David Ben-Gurion becomes first Israeli Prime Minister.
March 23	Armistice signed between Israel and Lebanon.
March 24	U.N. Security Council votes 9-1 to favor Israel's admission to the United Nations.
April 3	Armistice signed between Israel and Jordan.
May 11	United Nations Security Council votes to admit Israel into the United Nations.
July 20	Armistice signed between Israel and Syria. More than 550,000 Jewish refugees forced to flee Arab lands arrive in Israel from 1949 through 1950. Jewish immigration from Europe reaches 600,000 between 1949 and 1970.
1950
January	Arab League launches stiff commercial boycott of Israel to strangle the new state economically. Office set up in Syria in 1951 to enforce the Arab boycott. Israel struggles to build economy, construct housing and bring vital services to its fast growing population.
April 24	Jordan annexes West Bank of Palestine occupancy during the Israeli War.
May 19	Egypt closes Suez Canal to Israel. Continuing military/terrorist incidents with Egypt, Syria and Jordan.
1951
July 20	King Abdullah of Jordan assassinated by Egyptian agents after secret talks with Israel concerning peace. Arab states organize terror attacks on Israel. 967 Israelis killed between 1951-1955.
1952
May 2	Hussein becomes King of Jordan.
July 22	Egyptian military overthrows King Faruque and takes control of government.
September 10	West Germany agrees to pay $822 million in reparations for World War II.
November 5	Dwight Eisenhower elected President of the United States.
November 7	Death of Dr. Chaim Weizmann, first President of Israel.
1953
	Increasing terrorist and military attacks by Arab forces all along the Israeli border. Attacks continue until 1956.
December 6	Ben-Gurion retires from government.
Segment Number 3
1954
January 26	Moshe Sharett becomes Prime Minister.
April 17	Gamal Abdel Nasser takes control of government of Egypt.
October 19	Egypt gets Britain to sign treaty pulling all British troops out of Egypt. Israel wary.
1955
February 15	Ben-Gurion returns to government as Defense minister.
August 22	Fighting with Egypt erupts in Gaza Strip.
September 27	Communist Czechoslovakia supplies arms to Egypt.
October 20	Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia sign military alliance.
November 2	Ben-Gurion becomes Prime Minister again.
December 11	Fighting breaks out over Syrian attacks around Galilee area. Straits of Tiran blockaded by Egypt stops all sea trade to Eilat, Israel.
1956
May 12	Jet fighters delivered from France.
May 20	Communist Poland begins supplying arms to Egypt.
June 13	Last British soldiers pulled out of Egypt. British bases closed. Egypt takes over complete control of Suez Canal.
July 26	Egypt nationalizes Suez Canal. Britain and France worry that Egyptian control of Suez could effect their economies.
October	Jordan joins Egyptian-Syrian military pact. Egypt increases military forces in Sinai. Britain and France plan to reoccupy Suez Canal. Bring Israel into planning.
October 29	Israel military force crosses border, attacks Egyptian forces in Sinai; advances toward Suez Canal. Beginning of Sinai campaign.
October 30	Britain and France issue ultimatum to Egypt and Israel to clear forces away from Canal area and allow British and French occupation. Rejected by Egypt. Israel stops 30 miles from Canal, takes Sharm el-Sheik to reopen Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping.
October 31	Britain and France bomb Canal area.
November 5-6	Britain and France land military forces in Canal zone. Capture most of Suez Canal.
November 6	U.S. and Russia demand cease-fire. Britain, France and Israel agree.
November 15	United Nations Emergency Force lands in Egypt to supervise cease-fire.
December 22	After U.S. threats, Britain and France withdraw forces. Israeli forces stay in Sinai.
1957
February 2	U.N. resolution calls on Israel to withdraw from Sinai.
February 3	Israel refuses to withdraw without guarantee of free passage through Straits of Tiran and through Gulf of Aqaba.
February 5	U.S. threatens Israel with economic sanctions.
February 11	U.S. assures Israel it supports "free passage" through the Gulf of Aqaba. Israel refuses U.N. demand to leave Gaza Strip.
March 1	Israel announces withdrawal from Sinai on "assumption" of free passage in Gulf of Aqaba and agreement that U.N. will fence off and administer Gaza Strip. Egypt disregards agreement, moves back into Gaza 48 hours after Israel withdraws.
May	Egypt continues to refuse Israel the right to use the Suez Canal
July 9	Israeli forces battle Syrian attack for 10 hours.
1958
	Immigration increases to Israel.
1960
May 23	Israel captures Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in Argentina. He had been in charge of exterminating Jews in the death camps. In 1961, he goes on trial for crimes.
1962
May 21	Adolf Eichmann found guilty (Dec. 15) and executed.
September 26	U.S. announces military assistance to Israel.
1963
June 16	Ben-Gurion retires from government.
June 26	Levi Eshkol becomes new Prime Minister.
1966
February-October	Syria attacks Israeli settlements in 15 attacks all along border.
1967
January-April	Syria initiates 26 wide-ranging attacks on Israeli settlements.
April 7	Six Syrian planes shot down in clash with Israeli planes.
May 14	Egypt mobilizes military forces.
May 16-17	Egypt declares state of emergency. Syria goes to full military alert.
Segment Number 4
May 16	Egyptian military forces advance across Sinai toward Israel.
May 18	Egypt demands full withdrawal of U.N. buffer forces in the Sinai.
May 19	U.N. buffer forces withdraw. Egypt announces that this is the chance to "blot out [Israel's] entire presence."
May 20	Israel mobilizes military forces.
May 22	Egypt again closes the Straits of Tiran and Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping.
May 25	Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia move troops to mass on Israel's borders. Anti-Israel rhetoric reaches fever pitch.
May 28	Egypt orders all U.N. personnel out of Egypt. Threatens to close Suez Canal.
May 31	Egypt masses 100,000 soldiers, 1,000 tanks along the border of Israel. Israel outnumbered 3 to 1 by surrounding Arab armies.
June 1	Moshe Dayan joins Israeli government as Defense Minister.
June 2	Britain, Canada and U.S. tell Israel they are unable to send ships to open the Straits of Tiran.
June 4	Iraq joins Egypt-Jordan military agreement.
June 5	Israel launches surprise dawn air attack on Egyptian air bases destroying Egyptian air-force on the ground. Six Day War begins. Jordan launches attacks against Israel, bitter fighting in Jerusalem. Israeli forces cut through West Bank.
June 6	Israeli forces crack Egyptian defenses and race deep behind Egyptian forces to block Sinai mountain passes near Suez Canal. Israeli forces surround Jerusalem.
June 7	Israeli forces capture Old City of Jerusalem. West Bank captured up to the Jordan River.
June 7-8	Egyptian Sinai forces destroyed as they try to retreat through the now Israeli controlled mountain passes and coastal roads. Straits of Tiran opened. Entire Sinai in Israel control.
June 8	U.N. call for a cease-fire accepted by Egypt, Jordan and Israel.
June 9-10	Israeli counterattack on Golan Heights drives Syrians back. Golan falls to Israel.
June 10	Syria and Israel accept U.N. cease-fire.
June 11	Israeli ship sails through Straits of Tiran.
June 27	Israel passes laws for administration of the West Bank and incorporating East Jerusalem into Israeli Jerusalem.
September 1	Arabs at Khartoum Conference declare their answer to Israel: "Three No's: No recognition; No negotiations; No peace."
October 21	Egyptian missiles sink the Israeli destroyer Eilat in the Mediterranean.
November 22	U.N. Security Council unanimously accepts Resolution 242.
1968
July 18	Arab terrorists hijack El Al airliner.
October	Israel drive PLO terrorists under Yassir Arafat from West Bank into Jordan. Lebanon and Jordan become bases for terror attacks against Israel.
October 26	Egypt launches War of Attrition along the Suez Canal, shelling Israeli positions. War lasts until 1970. Bar-lev line of fortifications built along the Canal to protect Israeli troops
1969
January	France shuts off all military aid to Israel.
February 26	Prime Minister Levi Eshkol dies.
March 17	Golda Meir becomes new Prime Minister.
1970
August 19	Egypt, Jordan and Israel accept a U.S. proposal for a 90 day cease-fire to end the War of Attrition.
September 6	Arab terrorists hijack 4 airliners to Jordan.
September	King Hussein of Jordan attacks PLO camps and forces PLO to flee to Syria and Lebanon. Gamal Abdul Nasser dies. Anwar Sadat becomes leader of Egypt.
1972
September 5-6	PLO terrorists attack Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics; 11 athletes killed.
September 8	Israeli air-force retaliates with attacks on PLO bases in Lebanon and Syria.
1973
March	Sadat of Egypt sends envoy to Syria to propose joint military action against Israel.
October	Egyptian military units advance to the Canal each day and then pullback. Syria reinforces its troops along the front lines. Israeli intelligence believes Egyptian and Syrian movements are only training exercises.
Segment Number 5
October 6	Egypt launches massive attack across Suez Canal, surprising the Israelis on Yom Kippur and breaching the Israeli lines. Yom Kippur War begins. Syrian tanks launch massive attack on small Israeli forces guarding the Golan.
October 8	Syrian forces take most of Golan Heights. Only 6 Israeli tanks remain to block Syrian advance into Israel.
October 9	Israeli forces rush north to stop Syrian advance. Six Israeli tanks stall Syrian attack.
October 10	Israeli armored reinforcements join attack in the north, destroying 1,000 Syrian tanks. Push Syrians back to original lines. On the Egyptian front, Israeli counterattacks fail. Egyptian forces having made 5 miles of progress dig in and consolidate their lines. Israel forced to fall back and regroup forces 9 miles from Canal. Russians begin massive arms shipments to Syria.
October 14	Egypt launches massive attack to break Israeli lines. Attack broken with 305 Egyptian tanks destroyed. U.S. begins airlift of supplies to Israel.
October 15	Israeli counterattack under Sharon cuts through Egyptian lines and crosses Canal.
October 18	Israeli forces build second bridge across Suez and move large forces to Egyptian side of Canal. On Syrian front, Israeli forces advance past previous border. Take positions only 22 miles from Damascus, the Syrian capital
October 20	Kissinger flies to Russia to discuss cease-fire agreement with the Russians.
October 22	U.N. passes resolution calling on all parties to cease-fire. Accepted by Israel, Syria and Egypt. Egyptian forces try to open escape roads on the Egyptian side of Canal. Attack on Israeli units breaks the cease-file.
October 23-24	Israeli armored units in Egypt complete encirclement of Egyptian 3rd army, pinning it at the Suez Canal. Russians threaten to intervene to protect Egypt. President Nixon puts worldwide US military forces on nuclear alert blocking Russian possibility for intervention.
October 26	Surrounded Egyptian forces make last ditch effort to break out in three hour battle that fails.
December 1	David Ben-Gurion dies.
December 22	Egypt, Jordan, Israel, the U.S. and Russia gather in Geneva, Switzerland for peace talks.
1974
January 17	Egypt and Israel sign an agreement of disengagement.
April 2	State commission of inquiry report reveals political and military blunders leading up to and during war. Senior Israeli military leaders resign.
April 11	Prime Minister Golda Meir resigns. Yitzhak Rabin becomes Prime Minister. May Syrian-Israeli disengagement concluded.
1975
April	Kissinger's shuttle diplomacy wins final agreement from Syrians and Israelis.
September 4-5	Kissinger's shuttle diplomacy wins final agreement from Egypt and Israel.
November 10	U.N. passes PLO resolution that "Zionism is a form of racism."
1976
July 4	Entebbe; 110 hostages (103 Israelis) hijacked by terrorists from an Air France airliner. Israeli commandos fly to Uganda and in a daring raid, free the hostages and bring them back to Israel.
1977
May 17	Likud Party defeats Labor in Israel's 9th general election. First change of Israeli government since 1948 and the founding of the state. Menachem Begin becomes Prime Minister.
November	Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt, flies to Jerusalem, Israel to discuss peace. Addresses Knesset.
1978
September 4-17	U.S. President Carter,invites Begin and Sadat to the Presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland to work together and forge a peace agreement. After a rough start, final terms agreed to on 17th. Israel agreed to withdraw from all of Sinai in return for peace treaty.
1979
March 26	Formal treaty of peace signed between Israel and Egypt by Begin and Sadat in Washington D.C. President Carter instrumental in forging final agreement.
1981
October 6	Anwar Sadat assassinated by fundamentalist extremists for making peace with Israel. Hosni Mubarak becomes Egyptian leader. Israeli bombers destroy Iraqi atomic reactor at Osiraq. Raid temporarily stops Iraqi atomic weapons program.
1982
April 25	Israel completes full pull-out from Sinai. Returns territory to Egypt.
June 6	Israel invades Lebanon in response to continuing terrorist raids. Seeks to destroy PLO terrorist bases. By mid-June, Israeli forces drive PLO from southern Lebanon to find refuge in Beirut.
August	After 3 month siege, Beirut falls to Israeli forces. PLO fighters expelled from Beirut.
August 21	Fighting ceases.
September 14	Bashir Gemayel, Christian Phalangist and president elect of Lebanon, assassinated in Beirut, Lebanon by Lebanese Moslems.
September 16-17	Christian Phalange fighters pass through Israeli lines and attack PLO refugee camps at Sabra and Shatilla. Massacre results.
December 28	Direct Israeli-Lebanese talks begin.
1983
September	Menachem Begin resigns as Prime Minister. Leaves government. Yitzhak Shamir becomes new Prime Minister. Israel agrees to withdrawal to Awali River in Lebanon.
1984
September	Israeli elections; No party receives majority; Unity government formed with Labor leader Shimon Peres as Prime Minister.
1985
	Israeli forces withdraw from Lebanon after setting up a security zone to protect border from PLO infiltrators. PLO launches many infiltration attempts.
1986
October	Yitzhak Shamir (Likud) rotates to leadership of Unity government.
1987
December 9	Intifada (civilian revolt) breaks out in West Bank and Gaza.
1988
November	Elections bring no winner. New Unity government formed with Shamir as leader.
1989
	Liberalization of emigration policy in Russia opens door for Russian Jews. More than 300,000 Jews arrive in Israel between 1989-1991.
Segment Number 6
1990
November	Labor Party pulls out of Unity government. Elections return Likud to power. Shamir heads government.
1991
January-February	Gulf War; U.S. coalition forces attack Iraqi forces in Kuwait. Win lightning war. Iraq fires 30 Scud missiles at Israel causing great property damage but only one Israeli killed.
March	President Bush says that Gulf War victory opens "window of opportunity" for resolution of Arab- Israeli conflict. Secretary of State Baker travels to Middle East on first of eight peace missions.
May	14,000 Ethiopian Jews airlifted to Israel in 22 hours.
October 18	Secretary of State Baker, at a news conference in Jerusalem, says President Bush and Soviet President Gorbachev are inviting Israel, the Arab states, and the Palestinians to attend a Middle East peace conference to be held beginning October 30 in Madrid. Baker says the conference is to be followed by "direct negotiations to achieve real peace."
October 30	Opening the Madrid conference, President Bush says the objective is; "to achieve real peace...security, diplomatic relations, economic relations, trade, investment, cultural exchange, even tourism. We seek a Middle East, where vast resources are no longer devoted to armaments." Outsiders can assist, he says, "but in the end, it is up to the peoples and the governments of the Middle East to shape the future of the Middle East."
October 31	Palestinians, in a joint delegation with Jordan, attend the Madrid talks between Jordan, Syria, Israel and Lebanon. Direct bilateral talks begin among Israel and Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and participants from the occupied territories. Multilateral negotiations begin on arms control, security, water, refugees, the environment and economic development.
November 1	Secretary of State Baker in remarks closing the Madrid conference says a breakthrough was achieved with the start of "direct bilateral negotiations." Baker and conference co-sponsor Soviet Foreign Minister Pankin call for direct bilateral negotiations to start immediately.
November 29	Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinians agree to a joint U.S.-Soviet proposal to resume bilateral talks in Washington.
December 11	Direct bilateral negotiations between Israel and separate delegations from Syria and Lebanon proceed; Israeli and Lebanese delegations characterize two sessions of talks as "substantive"; but negotiations have not begun between Israel and a joint Palestinian delegation.
1992
	Peace talks between Israel and Arab states continue in Washington D.C. and other cities.
January 7-16	The United States hails as another "step forward" when Israeli and Jordanian/Palestinian delegates resolve procedural differences that allow the third round of talks to resume. Israeli representatives meet separately with Lebanese, Syrian and Jordanian/Palestinian delegations.
January 28-29	The organizational meeting for multilateral talks on regional issues such as arms control, refugees and the environment is held in Moscow. Rounds one, two and three convene in 1992 in Lisbon and London.
June 23	Israeli election returns Labor Party to power. Yitzhak Rabin becomes Prime Minister.
1993
August 26	PLO says it has reached provisional agreement in secret talks with Israel on partial autonomy in occupied territories.
August 29	Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres tells his cabinet that he has reached an agreement with the PLO on Palestinian autonomy in Gaza and Jericho.
August 31	Eleventh round opens with the Israelis announcement on secret talks with PLO in Oslo and an initialed accord on self-rule for Palestinians in Gaza Strip and Jericho.
September 9	Israel and the PLO agree to recognize each other after 45 years of conflict, building on a pact already initialed on Palestinian self-rule in the Israeli occupied Gaza Strip and in Jericho. PLO leader Yasser Arafat signs a letter recognizing Israel and renouncing violence.
September 10	Arafat letter is hand-carried to Israel by Norwegian Foreign Minister Johan Joergen Holst, whose country brokered the PLO-Israel pact. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signs a document recognizing the PLO, and opens the way to a signing ceremony August 13 in Washington. President Clinton calls the Oslo agreement "a bold breakthrough." Pledging continued direct engagement of the United States in the peace process. European leaders, including French president Francois Mitterrand and British Prime Minister John Major give strong endorsements to the Israel-PLO mutual recognition accord, but caution that much remains to be done. Belgian Foreign Minister Willy Claes, representing the European Community's (EC) current presidency, says he will immediately start consultations to intensify the Community's contribution to the Middle East peace process. The EC is the largest donor of aid to the Palestinians.
September 13	Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat meet, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and PLO Executive Council Member Mahmud Abbas sign the agreement.
September 14	The Israel-Jordan Common Agenda is agreed in Washington, DC, marking the end of the state of war between the two nations and paving the way for talks leading to a formal peace treaty.
1994
May 4	At a ceremony in Cairo, Prime Minister Rabin and Chairman Arafat sign the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. The new agreement sets out terms for implementation of the Declaration of Principles and includes annexes on withdrawal of Israeli military forces and security arrangements, civil affairs, legal matters, and economic relations.
July 25	The Washington Declaration, embracing the underlying principles of the Israel-Jordan Common Agenda, is signed in Washington, DC.
August 29	The Agreement on the Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities is signed at Erez, a checkpoint between Israel and the Gaza Strip. The expansion of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank over education, taxation, social welfare, tourism, and health was completed by December 1994.
October 26	The Treaty of Peace between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which had been initialed on October 17 by Israeli Prime Minister Rabin and Jordanian Prime Minister Majali, is signed at the White House.
1995
May 24	Secretary of State Christopher announces that Israel and Syria have reached a set of understandings on security arrangements.
September 28	The Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip is signed in Washington, DC. The agreement contains 31 articles and seven annexes (redeployment and security, elections, civil affairs, legal matters, economic relations, cooperation programs, and prisoner release).
November 4	Israeli Prime Minister Yizhak Rabin is assassinated following a peace rally in Tel Aviv by an Israeli university student, Yigal Amir.
1996
March 13	Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak hosts a "Summit of the Peacemakers" in Sharm El-Sheikh to call for a halt to extremism and violence.
April 30	President Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres sign a U.S.-Israeli Counterterrorism Accord at the White House.
May 31	Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu becomes prime minister of Israel, having defeated Labor's Shimon Peres in early elections called after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.
1998
January 20-22	President Clinton meets separately with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat in Washington in an attempt to re-energize the peace process.
September 28	Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat meet at the White House with President Clinton, who announces that Secretary Albright will return to the region for a further push to get direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations back on track.
October 15-23	President Clinton, Secretary Albright and other U.S. officials broker intensive negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority at the Wye River Conference Center. A final session results in agreement which is signed at the White House on October 23.
November 30	President Clinton hosts a Middle East Donors Conference in Washington at which some 40 nations pledge over $3 billion in economic assistance to the Palestinian Authority. The President will seek Congress' approval for an additional U.S. contribution of $400 million over the next five years.
December 12-15	President Clinton visits the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Following an historic address to the Palestinian Legislative Council PLC in Gaza, the President witnesses a PLC vote "fully and forever" rejecting conflict with Israel and revoking articles of the Palestinian Charter calling for the destruction of Israel.
1999
February 7	King Hussein of Jordan dies of cancer in Amman. His son, King Abdullah II, succeeds him. President Clinton issues a proclamation honoring the legacy of King Hussein, and joins world leaders at the late king's funeral in Amman February 8.
May 17-20	King Abdullah II of Jordan makes his first visit to the United States since succeeding his father, the late King Hussein.
May 17	Ehud Barak is elected Prime Minister of Israel, defeating Benyamin Netanyahu 56% to 44% in direct voting.
July 14-20	Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak visits the U.S. for the first time since taking office July 6. He and President Clinton pledge to make peace a top priority.
September 24	Representatives of regional and international parties, led by Secretary of State Albright, gather in New York as Partners in Peace to demonstrate their strong and unwavering support for the Middle East Peace Process.
December 15	President Clinton welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq Al-Shara to the White House prior to the resumption of direct negotiations suspended in 1996. The parties hold two days of talks and agree to a second round in January.
2000
January 3	Delegations from Israel and Syria, again led by PM Barak and Foreign Minister Al-Shara, gather in Shepherdstown, West Virginia for a further week of talks. Differences remain.
March 21	Palestinian-Israeli talks commence at Bolling Air Force Base near Washington, DC and last one week. The U.S. facilitates discussion of permanent status issues in an effort to help the parties reach a comprehensive agreement by September 13, 2000.
July 2	Arafat rejects peace settlement offered by PM Ehud Barak, which would have led to a Palestinian State.
July 11-25	President Clinton hosts meeting between Israeli and Palestinian leadership to address the most difficult of final status issues, including Jerusalem and the return of Palestinian refugees.
September	New "intifada" is launched. Arafat continues to incite, support, and fund terrorism.
October 4	Israeli PM Barak and Palestinian leader Arafat meet with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and French President Jacques Chirac in Paris.
October 17	Arafat and Barak attend meeting in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt arranged by president Clinton and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to discuss a cease-fire and pullback of Israeli forces.
November 7	Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell is asked by President Clinton to chair a fact-finding commission to look into the causes of recent violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
2001
February 25	Secretary of State Powell meets with the newly elected Prime Minister of Israel; Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem and Chairman Arafat in Ramallah.
April 30	The Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee, chaired by former U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell, issues its final report on how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict might be solved. The report calls for an immediate cease-fire, a renunciation of terrorism and a resumption of peace talks
June 26	President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon meet in Washington to discuss implementation of the Mitchell Report.
July 19	The Group of Eight (G-8) foreign ministers, meeting in Genoa, issue a statement calling for the implementation of the Mitchell Report recommendations.
September 26	Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian Chairman Arafat agree to a ceasefire and promise to resume joint security initiatives.
November 10	Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, President Bush states the U.S. will work "toward a day when two states, Israel and Palestine, live peacefully together within secure and recognize borders as called for by the Security Council resolutions."
November 19	Secretary Powell, in a speech delivered at University of Louisville, Kentucky, outlines U.S. policy to help achieve peace between Arabs and Israelis. He underscores U.S. support for a vision of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders.
November 27-29	Two Israelis killed 13 wounded by Palestinian with Katashnikov assault rifles at central bus station. Three Israelis killed 50 injuried in suicide bombing near city of Hadera.
2002
January 5	The Israeli Army seize a ship carrying 50 tons of rockets, mines, antitank missles, and munitions meant for Arafat.
January 17	Six Israelis killed 35 wounded when a Fatah terrorist opens fire with an M-16 automatic rifle at a wedding reception banquet Hall in Hadera.
February 18	President Bush supports a Saudi proposal to normalize Arab relations with Israel in exchange for withdrawal to its 1967 borders. The proposal first appeared February 17, 2002, in "The New York Times".
March 12	The United Nations Security Council adopts Resolution 1397, endorsing a "vision of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders." The resolution, introduced by the United States, is the first Security Council resolution to refer to Palestinian statehood.
March 2	A suicide bombing by Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in an ultra-Orthodos neighborhood of Jerusalem killed 11 people Israelis and injured more than 50.
March 27	The Arab League, meeting in Beirut, adopts the proposal of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah endorsing a peaceful two-state settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
April 4	President Bush, speaking from the White House, outlines his vision for a resolution of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and announces Secretary of State Powell will travel to the region, seeking an end to terrorism and violence.
April 12	Six Israelis killed 104 wounded by female suicice bomber at bus stop in Jaffa.
May 2	The United States, United Nations, European Union, and Russia announce plans to arrange for the distribution of humanitarian aid and establish more effective security arrangements in the region.
June 24	President Bush, speaking from the White House, calls for new Palestinian leadership and pledges that, "when the Palestinian people have new leaders, new institutions, and new security arrangements with their neighbors, the United States of America will support the creation of a Palestinian state whose borders and certain aspects of its sovereignty will be provisional until resolved as part of a final settlement in the Middle East." Bush also calls for an end to terrorism, increased humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, and the normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab World.
August 1	President Bush meets with Jordan's King Abdullah in Washington. Bush also met briefly with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, who was at the White House for discussion with National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice.
August 8	Secretary of State Powell met in Washington with a Palestinian delegation including Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat, Interior Minister Abdel Razak Yehiyeh and Economic and Trade Minister Maher Masri.
September 12	President Bush, addressing the United Nations General Assembly, underscored his commitment to the establishment of an independent and democratic Palestinian state "living side by side with Israel in peace and security."
October 1	President Bush signs the Foreign Affairs Authorization Act for fiscal year 2003 and maintains that the status of Jerusalem must be negotiated by the Israelis and Palestinians.
November 28	Five Israelis killed 40 wounded when two Fatah terrorists toss grenades at Likud polling station in Beit She'an during casting of votes.
2003
April 30	The road map to a permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is released. The road map sets forth a sequence of steps toward the goals outlined by President Bush during his June 24, 2002, speech.
May 1	Mahmoud Abbas is confirmed as the first Palestinian Prime Minister.
May 10-13	Secretary Powell travels to the Middle East to discuss implementing President Bush's road map for peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
May 19	Three Israelis killed and 13 wounded in suicide bombing by Fatah Aqsa Martyres Brigade at entrance to the Amakim Mall in Afula.
June 3-4	Red Sea Summit held in Aqaba, Jordan.
2004
January 29	Eleven Israelis killed 50 wounded in suicide bombing at an Egged bus no. 19 in Jerusalem by Fatah — El Aqsa Martyrs' Brigrade.
April 14	President Bush sends a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon welcoming Israel's plan to withdraw settlements from Gaza and parts of the West Bank and reaffirming the United States' commitment to the road map.
September 29	Qassam rockets launched from Gaza kill 2 Israeli children in Sderoth.
October 7	Multiple suicide attacks kill 27 Israel tourists at Ras Satan in the Siani.
November 11	Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat dies at age 75.
2005
January 9	Mahmoud Abbas wins the Palestinian presidential elections with 62.3 percent of the votes cast.
February 8	Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas — also known as Abu Mazen — agree to a ceasefire at the summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The summit, which was hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II, is the first high-level meeting between Palestinian and Israeli leaders in over four years. The intifada is deemed to be over.
February 25	Suicide bombing by Islamic Jihad kills 5 Israelis in Tel Aviv.
March 1	Members of the Quartet — the United Nations, Russia, the European Union and the United States — convene in London for the Meeting on Supporting the Palestinian Authority. The Quartet calls for continued financial support from the international community and encourages preparations for a future pledging conference.
August 15	Israeli evacuation of Gaza settlements and 4 West Bank settlements begins to be completed by August 24.
September 23	Hamas fires about 40 Qassam rocket from Gaza into Sderoth.
2006
March	Hamas continues to fire quantites of Qassam rocket at Sderoth.
June	Hamas fires more that 90 Qassams into Sderoth.
July 12	Hezbollah terrorist cross blue line border with Lebanon attacking an Israeli patrol killing 3 and capturing 2 soldiers. Several Israeli soldiers killed the following day by a land mine.
September 20	President Bush meets with the Palestinian president on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, reiterating U.S. support for a two-state solution.
2007
	Qassam Calendar for 2007 (rockets fired from Gaza into Sderot) Feb:90, Mar: 66, Apr: 103, May: 186, Jun: 78, July: 24, Aug: 62, Sept: 52, Oct: 60, Nov: 71, Dec: 101, Jan 2008: 267
June 27	Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair becomes the first special representative for the Quartet. He will represent the diplomatic grouping and support Palestinian state-building efforts.
July 16	President Bush calls for a Middle East peace conference in the fall to be led by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and to include Palestinians, Israelis and regional neighbors who support creation of a Palestinian state, as well as new aid measures to support the West Bank-based government of Palestinian Authority President
November 20	The United States invites 49 nations, organizations and individuals to attend the November 26-28 Middle East Peace Conference at the U.S. Naval Academy campus in Annapolis, Maryland, about 80.5 kilometers outside Washington.

Israel: A Quest for Peace is a six-part documentary.

Valerie Harper, star of "Golda's Balcony," Narrator

Misha Segal, Composer and Musical Director

Arthur Seidelman, Creative Consultant

Israel: A Quest for Peace Timeline

Segment Number 1

Segment Number 2

Segment Number 3

Segment Number 4

Segment Number 5

Segment Number 6