1882 - Zionist Movement: The Zionist movement officially begins with the establishment of the first Jewish settlement in Palestine by European Jews seeking to create a Jewish homeland.
1917 - Balfour Declaration: The British government issues a statement declaring its support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.
1920 - League of Nations/Europeans Create Mandates to Partition Southwest Asia: The League of Nations grants Britain and France authority over territories in the Middle East, leading to the creation of mandates that later shape the borders of modern-day Middle Eastern countries.
1945 - Creation of the Arab League: Arab countries unite to form the Arab League, a regional organization aimed at promoting economic, cultural, and political cooperation among its members.
1948 - Israel becomes an official State: The state of Israel is officially declared, leading to a war with neighboring Arab states and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
1956 - Suez Canal Crisis: Egypt nationalizes the Suez Canal, sparking a conflict with Israel, France, and Britain over control of the strategic waterway.
1967 - Six-Day War: Israel defeats neighboring Arab countries in a six-day conflict, gaining control of the Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, West Bank, and Gaza Strip.
1978 - Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty: Israel and Egypt sign a peace treaty, the first between Israel and an Arab state, leading to Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula.
1993 - Oslo Accords: Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) sign an agreement aimed at achieving peace and establishing Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
1973 - Yom Kippur War: Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Israel during the Yom Kippur holiday, leading to a conflict that ends in a ceasefire and territorial changes.
1939-1945 - World War II/Holocaust: The Holocaust, the systematic genocide of six million Jews by the Nazis during World War II, leads to the establishment of the state of Israel as a safe haven for Jewish survivors.