Since 1948, the world has witnessed the decades-long conflict between Israel, Arabs, and Palestinian populations. This strife has had a long and complicated timeline, and has caused great difficulty in achieving peace in the region.
The roots of the conflict date back to the end of the 19th century when the Jewish people began their efforts to reestablish their homeland — Israel — as the homeland of the Jewish people. As a result, the Arab population in former Palestine reacted with great opposition. The British were then in control of the region, and recognized a plan in 1947 which would have divided the area into two states: Israel and Palestine, with an international zone in Jerusalem. This plan was quickly rejected by the Arab community, and the ensuing conflict eventually led to the formation of Israel in 1948.
At the same time, the Arab army was also determined to take the land away from the Jews. This led to a full-scale war in 1948, with Israel ultimately being declared the victor. After the war, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced, resulting in the displacement of more than 750,000 Palestinians who became known as refugees. This event is widely known as the Palestinian Nakba, or “catastrophe.”
In the years that followed, the conflict has taken many forms. In 1956, Israel and Britain launched a military operation against Egypt, leading to another full-scale war. Two decades later, the Arab-Israeli War of 1973 saw Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack against Israel, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displacement of even more people.
The 1970s and 1980s saw a rise of Palestinian nationalism, with a PLO-led Palestinian National Council (PNC) attempting to reclaim land from Israel. In 1982, Israeli naval forces invaded the southern coast of Lebanon, leading to violence that lasted for two decades. During this time, countries such as Syria, Jordan and Egypt began signing peace treaties with Israel, but the Palestinian leadership still refused to agree to a peaceful solution with Israel.
The decades-long struggle came to a head in 2000 when the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) declared their intentions to pursue a peaceful resolution with Israel. This led to the Oslo Accords and the formation of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The years since have seen an intense propensity for violence, with the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict and the 2008–09 Gaza War being the two deadliest conflicts to occur in the region.
Ultimately, this timeline of events shows the myriad of issues behind the search for a resolution to this ongoing conflict. The conflict has had a profound effect on all involved, and while there have been some efforts in recent years to achieve peace, the situation remains tense. All those who care about peace should continue to strive to find a resolution and stability in the region.