As direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks get underway in Washington, DC, we thought it would be useful to review the history of the peace process:
1947 – The United Nations recommends partition with the passage of Resolution 181 by a vote of 33 to 13 – with Canada supporting the division of the former British Mandate into "Jewish" and "Arab" states. The Jewish community in the region accepts the decision. Arab nations and Palestinians reject partition.
1948 – Israel declares independence on May 14th on the territory partitioned according to Resolution 181. The following day, 6 Arab states invade Israel.
1949 – War of Independence ends, with armistice lines being drawn between the two sides. Egypt assumes control of the Gaza Strip, while Jordan occupies the West Bank and the eastern side of Jerusalem.
1956 – Egypt nationalizes the Suez Canal, blocking Israeli shipping. Sinai War breaks out, resulting in Israel controlling the entire Peninsula.
1957 – After Egypt refuses to make peace, Israel withdraws independently from the Sinai Peninsula. United Nations peacekeepers are installed along the Israel-Egypt border.
1967 – Egypt expels UN peacekeepers from the Sinai, blockades the Straits of Tiran (Red Sea) from all Israeli shipping, and establishes a unified military command with Jordan and Syria. The Six Day War results, with Israel winning control of the Golan Heights, Gaza, the Sinai, and the West Bank. Jerusalem is united under Israeli sovereignty.
Click here to read more in our new Peace Process 2010 microsite »
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