Israel: 1948
In 1917, the Balfour Declaration promised Palestinian Arabs independence if they helped beat the Turks in World War I and promised Jews a homeland.

In the 1920’s, 30’s, and 40’s Jewish immigration increased in Palestine and the Zionist movement is underway, wanting a homeland for the Jews.

In 1947, Britain asked the UN to intervene as a result of continuing rioting and terrorism between Palestinians and Jews. The United Nations called for a plan to partition Palestine into two states; one Palestinian and one Jewish, with Jerusalem controlled by the UN. The plan didn’t work. Arabs rejected it; Jews rejoiced and prepared for war.

In 1948, Britain left Palestine and violence escalated. Israel declared independence. Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon prepared to fight Israel. Israel overcame these armies and in their victory took more land than the partition plan had suggested. 750,000 Palestinians were displaced but not received by their supposed allies. Jordan occupied Jerusalem’s Old City and the West Bank. Egypt occupied the Gaza Strip.

David Ben-Gurion became the first prime minister of Israel.

Suez Canal
The Suez Canal is west of the Sinai Peninsula and is 101 miles long! At the
narrowest point, it is 984 feet wide. It is located between Port Said on the Mediterranean
Sea and Suez on the Red Sea. The canal provides two-way north and south water
transport between Europe and Asia. With the canal in use, circumnavigation around
Africa is unnecessary.

It is believed that Rameses II may have had a canal built in this area, around the
13th century, B.C. The canal was modified, destroyed, and rebuilt several times. The
present canal was built in 1858 and was completed eleven years later, in 1869. Over
125,000 people died while working on the Suez Canal.

In 1875, Egypt sold its shares in the canal to Great Britain for 400,000 pounds.
The building of the canal coincided with the American trans-continental railroad, built
around the same time. These modern marvels permitted convenient and speedy
transporting of goods around the world.

Great Britain pulled out of managing the canal in 1954. Around this time, Egypt
tried to obtain weapons from the Soviet Union. Great Britain and the U.S. withdrew
pledges to help build the Aswan Dam as a result. The Egyptian president, Gamal Abdel
Nasser nationalized the canal in 1956. As a result, Britain, France and Israel invaded,
creating the “Suez Crisis of 1956.” The canal had to be closed for a year to clear away
sunken ships from the conflict. The United Nations stepped in and helped maintain
neutrality around the canal.

(edited from source)