1916: Following World War I, the Sykes-Picot agreement is signed between France, Britain and Russia to divide up the land that was once the defeated Ottoman Empire. The land called Palestine becomes a British colony. Other boarders in the Ottoman Empire, including Lebanon and Syria, are artificially drawn by western powers. At this time, the British colony was populated predominately by Arabs.

1917: British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issues the “Balfour” declaration with the intent to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Said Balfour, “His Majesty’s Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”

1930-40: In 1935 Hitler issued the Nuremberg laws in Germany, revoking Jewish rights on the basis of race. Anti-Jewish sentiment was on the rise, highlighted by “the night of broken glass,” where a number of Jewish businesses in Germany were destroyed in riots. The holocaust was taking shape. In Russia, Joseph Stalin persecuted Jews as well. Jewish synagogues and Jewish owned publications were ordered closed. As a result, immigration to Palestine and other areas increased up to the start of World War II.

1936-39: Arab nationalists in Palestine attempt to block the increasing influx of Jewish immigrants. Palestinians attack both the British army and Jewish settlements.

1930-40: Throughout the globe, including Palestine, Jewish immigrants are turned back. Many are sent back to face certain death at the hands of the Nazis in Europe.

1944-45: The allies move in on Germany. Russian, American and British forces are shocked at the atrocities committed by Nazi forces against Jews, Catholics, the handicapped and other minorities.

1947: The newly formed United Nations votes to divide Palestine into two states, one for Arabs, another for the Jews. Jerusalem was to remain under international jurisdiction.

1948: Britain withdrew from Palestine. Arabs in the area join with the Palestinians to prevent the creation of the new state. Jordan occupied the West Bank, Egypt the Gaza Strip.

1956: Israel, Britain and France joined forces to attack Egypt, making it into the Sinai Peninsula. Under intense pressure from the United States and Soviet Union?now the preeminent powers on the globe respectively?the forces withdraw. The event came to symbolize the end of European colonial authority and the beginning of U.S. hegemony in international affairs.

1964: The Palestinian Liberation organization founded by Arab leaders in Cairo.

1967: Israel launches a preemptive strike against Egypt, Syria and Jordan as they prepared for war against it. The three countries are routed in what became known as the “Six Day” war. Israel takes the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and even the Sinai peninsula from Egypt. The previous three territories remain occupied today.

1969: Yasser Arafat elected chairman of the executive committee of the PLO.

1973: Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Israel on a Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, retaking the Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula. The same year several Arab States issue an oil embargo on the United States, causing an energy crisis.

Coincidence or not, U.S. support toward Israel increased dramatically after 1973, with Israel becoming America?s most staunch ally in the Middle East at a time many Arab states were siding with the Russians in the Cold War. This support continues today, much to the dismay of the Palestinians and other rival Arab governments. As a result, Israel maintains the most powerful military forces in the region. With American technology, it maintains an air force that is by far the most sophisticated. U.S. support remains at about $3 billion per year.

1974: Arab summit in Morocco affirms the PLO as the legitimate voice of the Palestinian people.

1979: Camp David agreements lead to a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Menehem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat are hailed for the landmark agreement. Sadat was assassinated two years later.

1982: Israel invaded Lebanon to protect themselves from “terrorist” attacks in the region. The war is hotly debated both in and out of Israel. After routing their way to Beirut, the army becomes frustrated with the random attacks against them while many begin to doubt the war?s purpose. Israeli troops withdraw in 1985.

During this war, villagers in the towns of Sabra and Shatila are massacred by Philangist Christians allied with Israel while Israeli troops surround the towns. Though most in the Israeli Army denied knowledge of the incident, many witnesses say they were in plane view of the carnage. Then general Ariel Sharon, now Israel?s prime minister, was nearly indicted by Belgian courts last year for responsibility in the massacre.

1987: The Palestinian uprising or “intifada” begins. Palestinians, having endured years as second class citizens in Israel with few legal rights and a low standard of living, attacked Israeli troops with little more than rocks and small arms.

1988: The PLO recognized Israel?s right to exist.

1994: Israel allows Palestinians control over local governments in the Gaza Strip and Jericho. 1 million Palestinians enjoyed a degree of autonomy for the first time as Israeli forces withdrew.

1990s: Terror attacks increase as part of a growing trend throughout the world. Many of which target Israel. The attacks are part of a growing trend around the world.

2001: Conservative Ariel Sharon becomes prime minister, possibly as a backlash to the compromises granted the Palestinians throughout the 90s.

2001: The dynamic of American foreign policy changed after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. President George W. Bush states that countering terrorism will be the focus of his foreign policy.

2001-02: A new “intifada” ensues with some of the bloodiest fighting since 1967. Both sides commit atrocities with the largest number of casualties inflicted on civilians. American Secretary of State Colin Powell is sent to negotiate peace.