Historical Agreements
What 1917 declaration expressed British support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine?
The Balfour Declaration.
When did the State of Israel declare independence?
May 14, 1948
Who was the first Prime Minister of Israel?
David Ben-Gurion.
Which country controlled the West Bank after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War?
Jordan.
Which organisation proposed the partition plan for Palestine in 1947?
The United Nations.
Which agreement between Britain and France in 1916 secretly divided the Ottoman Empire's territories?
The Sykes-Picot Agreement.
What war immediately followed the declaration of Israeli independence?
The 1948 Arab-Israeli War (or War of Independence).
Which Egyptian leader nationalised the Suez Canal in 1956?
Gamal Abdel Nasser.
What territory was under Egyptian control after the 1948 war?
The Gaza Strip.
What role did Britain play in Palestine from 1920 to 1948?
Britain held the Mandate for Palestine under the League of Nations.
Which 1922 document formalised British administration over Palestine under the League of Nations?
The Palestine Mandate
Which city was the focus of tensions during the 1956 Suez Crisis?
The city of Suez, near the Suez Canal.
What are the names of the three Jewish extremist groups that came out in the 1940s/50s, and what is the major difference between them?
Haganah - Initially a defence organisation formed in 1920 to protect Jewish settlements, it grew into a more organised paramilitary force during the British Mandate.
Irgun - breakaway faction of Haganah, focusing on aggressive responses to Arab attacks and British policies.
Lehi - more radical offshoot of Irgun, Lehi sought to drive the British out of Palestine entirely.
What region was demilitarised under the 1949 Armistice Agreements but became a source of conflict?
The Golan Heights.
What action did France and Britain take during the 1956 Suez Crisis?
They launched a military intervention alongside Israel.
What was the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence about?
Britain promised support for an independent Arab state in exchange for Arab support during World War I.
What event in 1936-1939 involved a large-scale uprising in Palestine against British rule and Jewish immigration?
The Arab Revolt.
Who was the British Foreign Secretary who issued the Balfour Declaration?
Arthur James Balfour.
What was the significance of the Green Line?
It marked the armistice boundaries established after the 1948 war, between Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Syria.
What was the U.S. position on the nationalisation of the Suez Canal in 1956?
The U.S. opposed the use of force and pressured Britain, France, and Israel to withdraw.
What 1947 United Nations resolution proposed the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states?
UN Resolution 181.
What was the outcome of the 1949 Armistice Agreements?
The borders of Israel were established, with Gaza under Egyptian control and the West Bank under Jordanian control.
Who led the Jewish paramilitary group Irgun during the British Mandate period?
Menachem Begin.
What territory did Israel gain control of during the 1956 Suez Crisis, albeit temporarily?
The Sinai Peninsula.
What does UNRWA stand for?
nited Nations Relief and Works Agency