• The conflict has been characterized by fluid borders from the very beginning. The Balfour Declaration in 1917 promised a Jewish national homeland in Palestine with respect for the rights of the non-Jewish Palestinians. This date is interesting, because as we later heard (from Salim Munayer) that an ethic nation state movement (every culture should have a state) began in 1919. The Balfour Declaration made allowances for a homeland not a nation state for the Jews in Palestine. A one, single state was the prospect of the initial vision. The history of the fluid borders is critical to understand the current situation (I borrow from Carter’s book the following.)
• 1922  The League of Nations confirmed the British mandates over Iraq and Palestine and the French mandates over Syria and Lebanon. Transjordan is separated from the Palestinian Mandate and becomes an autonomous kingdom. 
• 1936  Palestinian Arabs petition for a halt to the Jewish immigration and propose a ban on the sale of land to the immigrants. Violence breaks out and the British attempt to control the spread of the violence. The Peel Commission recommends partition of Palestine between the Jews and the Arabs. The beginning of the two state solution.
• 1939  Britain restricts immigration and land sales. Jewish militants react with violence.
• 1947 The UN decides to partition land into Jewish, Arab and international area (Jerusalem and Bethlehem).
• 1948  Israel declares independence. War-fighting results with Israel winning. Refugee issue surfaces.
• 1949  Armistice agreement with Arabs allow Israel to gain 77% of Palestine; Egypt occupied Gaza; Transjordan becomes Jordan and controls what remains of the West Bank and old Jerusalem.
• 1964  PLO is established and commits to battle to liberate Arab homeland.
• 1967  Six day war against Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Jordan. Israel wins and occupies the Golan Heights, Gaza, the Sinai, and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. The UN declares acquisition of land by force inadmissible and calls for Israel’s withdrawal.
• 1973 Yom Kipper war.
• 1977–78  Sadat – Begin talks and the Camp David Accords. Arabs reject Accords isolating Egypt.
• 1979 Israel withdraws from Sinai.
• 1981 Israel escalates settlements. Sadat assassinated.
• 1982 Israel seeks to destroy PLO in Lebanon. Hezbollah established. International criticism of Israel.
• 1985 Partial withdrawal from Lebanon. My observation is that the Israeli military is very demoralized and morally bankrupt.
• 1987 The Palestinian intifada (uprising) erupts, Israel responds harshly. Hamas is established.
• 1988 Jordan cedes rights in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to the PLO. Arafat acknowledges Israel’s right to exist and denounces violence. US and PLO talk.
• 1991 First Gulf War. A Middle East conference focused on Arab-Israel relations.
• 1993 First Oslo – Israel and PLO pledge mutual recognition and a five year peace process. Militants on both sides undermine agreement.
• 1994 Palestinian National Authority established. Israel and Jordan peace agreement.
• 1995 Rabin assassinated. Palestinians against Oslo act with violence.
• 1996 Arafat elected President. Likud Party in power stalls Oslo process.
• 1998 Wye River Memorandum.
• 2000 Israel withdraws from Lebanon, hold Sabbaa Farms. Camp David talks break down. Sharon visits Temple Mount.  Second intafata.
• 2001 Ariel Sharon prime minister, rejects Oslo, emphasizes national security. (In 2002, US National Security Strategy published.)
• 2002 Suicide bombings provoke strong Israeli response, Arafat confined to Ramallah office, separation barrier building begins.
• 2003 The Quartet Group agree on a “road map for peace.” Palestinians pledge full support, Israel rejects key points. Violence continues, and the security barrier draws international criticism. Unofficial peace agreement negotiated known as the Geneva Initiative.
• 2004 Arafat dies.
• 2005 Abass elected president of Palestinian Authority. Israel evacuated settlement in Gaza and four in West Bank.
• January 2006 Sharon suffers stroke. Hamas wins a small plurality of votes, but a majority of seats in parliament. Israel and US cut off funds, isolating Palestine.
• March – August 2006 Prime Minister Olmert Israelim establishes the wall as the new Israel with a West Bank border. Hamas and Hezbollah capture Israeli soldiers. Israel attacks Lebanon and Gaza.  Hezbollah rockets hit Israel. UN sets cease fire.
• 2007 Hamas takes over Gaza. Israel removes some Hamas from power on the West Bank, Abbas receives support from Israel and US. Israel releases funds and Quartet promises support to Abbas.

Thanks to Herman Keizer.

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