History of Israel in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 16, 2026

Israel is a Middle Eastern nation located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Established in 1948, it is a parliamentary democracy with a unique identity as the world's only Jewish-majority state. Its capital is Jerusalem, though the status of the city remains a complex geopolitical issue. The country is known for its deep historical and religious significance to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, hosting numerous sacred landmarks. Despite its small geographical size, Israel has developed a highly advanced economy driven by a robust technology and innovation sector. Throughout its history, the nation has faced significant regional conflict and instability, which has shaped its security policies and foreign relations. Today, Israel balances its cultural heritage and religious traditions with a modern, democratic society that serves as a focal point for global political discourse.

1904: Beginning of the Second Aliyah

In 1904, the Second Aliyah commenced following the Kishinev pogrom, marking the start of a ten-year wave of Jewish immigration to Palestine that would bring approximately 40,000 settlers to the region.

1907: Founding of Bar-Giora

In 1907, Jewish armed militias began to emerge in Palestine, starting with the establishment of Bar-Giora, which laid the groundwork for future self-defense organizations in the region.

1909: Establishment of Tel Aviv and Hashomer

In 1909, the community saw two major milestones: the founding of Tel Aviv as the first planned Jewish town and the formation of Hashomer, a Jewish armed militia that replaced the earlier Bar-Giora organization.

1914: Conclusion of the Three-Million-Jew Migration Wave

By 1914, a massive wave of Jewish emigration from tsarist Russia had concluded, totaling three million individuals who fled systemic antisemitism and state-sanctioned violence. While the vast majority relocated elsewhere, a small fraction—approximately 1%—settled in Palestine during this period ending in 1914.

1914: Conclusion of the Second Aliyah

By 1914, the Second Aliyah period concluded, having significantly influenced the Yishuv through socialist Zionist ideals and the establishment of the kibbutz movement, despite nearly half of the immigrants eventually departing.

1917: The Balfour Declaration

In 1917, Chaim Weizmann successfully obtained the Balfour Declaration, a formal statement from the British government expressing support for the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine.

1918: Jewish Legion Assists British Conquest

In 1918, the Jewish Legion, which was composed mainly of Zionist volunteers, provided critical assistance to the British forces during their conquest of Palestine.

1919: Beginning of the Third Aliyah

Starting in 1919, the Third Aliyah began, contributing to a significant wave of Jewish immigration to Palestine that continued over the following years.

1920: Establishment of the British Mandate

In 1920, the British Mandate began, during which time the entire region was officially referred to as Palestine.

1920: Establishment of Mandatory Palestine and Civil Unrest

In 1920, the territory was partitioned between Britain and France, with the British-controlled section designated as Mandatory Palestine. This period saw significant Arab opposition to British rule and Jewish immigration, resulting in the 1920 Palestine riots and the establishment of the Haganah militia.

1922: League of Nations Mandate for Palestine

In 1922, the League of Nations officially granted Britain the Mandate for Palestine, incorporating the Balfour Declaration and extending similar protections to the Arab Palestinian population.

1923: Conclusion of the Third Aliyah

The Third Aliyah immigration period concluded in 1923, marking the end of this specific phase of Jewish migration to the region.

1924: Beginning of the Fourth Aliyah

In 1924, the Fourth Aliyah commenced, further increasing the Jewish population in Palestine through a steady stream of immigration.

1929: Conclusion of the Fourth Aliyah

The Fourth Aliyah came to an end in 1929, having helped facilitate the arrival of a combined total of 100,000 Jewish immigrants during the Third and Fourth Aliyah periods.

1936: Outbreak of the Arab Revolt

In 1936, the Arab revolt began, largely triggered by the mass influx of Jewish immigrants during the Fifth Aliyah, leading to significant violence and British intervention that lasted until 1939.

1939: The White Paper of 1939

In 1939, the British government issued the White Paper, which imposed strict limitations on Jewish immigration into Palestine, an act that occurred as many Jewish refugees were seeking to escape the Holocaust.

1944: Beginning of the Jewish Insurgency

Starting in 1944, a Jewish insurgency against British rule began in Palestine, driven by the ongoing immigration restrictions and the frustration of the Jewish population, which later led to an armed struggle involving groups like the Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi.

July 1946: King David Hotel Bombing

On 22 July 1946, the Irgun paramilitary group carried out a lethal bombing of the British administrative headquarters located at the King David Hotel, resulting in 91 deaths. This attack served as retaliation for the British-led Operation Agatha, which included raids against the Jewish Agency, and remains the deadliest attack against British authorities during the Mandate era.

February 1947: British Referral of the Palestine Issue to the UN

In February 1947, due to the failure of British mediation efforts between Jewish and Arab representatives, the British government officially referred the status of Palestine to the newly established United Nations for resolution.

May 1947: Establishment of UNSCOP

On 15 May 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to create a Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) tasked with investigating the situation and preparing a report on the future governance of the region, which eventually proposed a partition into separate Jewish and Arab states.

July 1947: The Sergeants Affair

During July 1947, the Irgun insurgency peaked when the group kidnapped two British sergeants to prevent the execution of three Irgun operatives. Following the British execution of these operatives, the Irgun killed the two hostages, hanged them from trees, and set a booby trap at the site. This violent confrontation sparked significant outrage throughout the United Kingdom.

September 1947: British Decision to Evacuate Palestine

In September 1947, following months of intense instability and the failure of the mandate's administration, the British cabinet formally determined that remaining in Palestine was no longer tenable and initiated plans for an evacuation.

1947: United Nations Partition Plan

In 1947, the United Nations proposed a Partition Plan for the region, which triggered a period of heightened instability and ultimately escalated into a civil war between Jewish and Arab populations.

1947: Continued Jewish Insurgency

Throughout 1947, the Jewish insurgency in Palestine persisted as militant groups continued their operations. Despite significant efforts by the British military and the Palestine Police Force to suppress these movements, the insurgency remained active throughout the entirety of the year.

May 1948: Israeli Declaration of Independence

On May 1948, Israel declared its independence coinciding with the conclusion of the British Mandate, an event that triggered an immediate invasion by neighboring Arab states.

1948: Establishment of the State of Israel

In 1948, the country was formally established and named the State of Israel, a name selected by David Ben-Gurion after several other options were rejected. Shortly after the state's founding in 1948, the government officially adopted the term 'Israeli' to identify its citizens.

1949: 1949 Armistice Agreements

In 1949, armistice agreements concluded the conflict, resulting in Israel expanding its territory beyond the original UN partition plan, while the Gaza Strip fell under Egyptian control and the West Bank under Jordanian rule.

1967: Six-Day War

Following the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza, and the Sinai Peninsula, while annexing East Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan Heights.

1979: Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty

In 1979, Israel and Egypt signed a formal peace treaty, which laid the groundwork for the diplomatic resolution of territorial disputes between the two nations.

1982: Sinai Peninsula Handover

In 1982, the Sinai Peninsula was officially returned to Egypt, completing the terms established in the 1979 peace treaty.

1993: Oslo Accords

In 1993, the Oslo Accords were introduced, establishing a framework for limited Palestinian self-rule within the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

1994: Israel–Jordan Peace Treaty

In 1994, Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty, officially normalizing diplomatic and political relations between the two countries.

2000: Early References to Canaan

Around 2000 BCE, ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian texts provided the earliest mentions of Canaan and the Canaanite people, who were organized into a collection of politically independent city-states.

2020: Abraham Accords

In 2020, the Abraham Accords were signed, marking the normalization of diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab nations.

29 November 1947: Adoption of UN Resolution 181 (II)

On 29 November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 181 (II), which proposed a plan to partition Mandatory Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. The Jewish Agency accepted the proposal, which allocated approximately 55–56% of the land to the Jewish population, despite them representing only one-third of the total residents and owning a significantly smaller fraction of the territory at the time.