1881

First pogrom against Jews in Russia

1882-1903

First wave of immigration (Alija), 30,000 Jews from Eastern Europe arrive in Palestine

1886

Theodor Herzl publishes "Der Judenstaat" (The Jewish State)

1897

Theodor Herzl establishes Zionism, which demands a secular state of Israel. First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland

1904-14

The first socialist Kibbutzim established in Palestine (David Ben Gurion)

1914-18

World War One 

1917

The Balfour Declaration promises Jews a national homeland in Palestine

1920

Arab unrest in Jerusalem. Foundation of the Zionist-socialist trades union (Histradut) under the leadership of Ben Gurion

1933-39

Many Jews from across Europe, but mainly from Nazi Germany flee to Palestine

1936-39

Large Arab uprising, height of the Zionist colonization

1938-45

Shoa (the holocaust) takes place in Europe by the Nazis 

1941

Foundation of Palmach (specialist forces of the Hagana, an underground army that fought against the British and the "Palestinians")

1947

The United Nations decided to partition Palestine

1948

14th May: Establishment of the state of Israel, it comes under immediate attack from Arab forces

1948-49 

Israeli War of Independence

1956

Suez crisis, Sinai War against Egypt

1958

Fatah (a movement for the liberation of Palestine) is founded by Palestinians in Kuwait (incl. Arafat)

1964

First Palestinian National Congress, PLO is founded

1967

Six Day War 

1973

Jom Kippur War

1974

Intermediate agreement with Egypt 

1976

Kidnapping of an aircraft and freeing of passengers in Entebbe, Uganda

1979

Peace agreement with Egypt

1982

Invasion of Lebanon

1987

Intifada begins

1991

Middle East conference in Madrid

1993

Intermediate agreement between Israelis and Palestinians is signed in Washington [Rabin's speech]

1994

Gaza Jericho agreement

Rabin, Peres and Arafat receive Nobel Peace Prize [Rabin's speech]

Israeli-Jordanian peace agreement

Summit meeting in Cairo (Rabin, Hussein, Mubarak, Arafat), a joint declaration against "the spilling of blood, terror and violence in the region"

1995

28 September: second intermediate agreement between Israel and the Palestinians
4 November: Rabin is murdered