Children of Abraham:
The Battle for Palestine

Nov. 29, 1947: The United Nations passed a resolution to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. Jewish residents of Tel Aviv flooded the streets to celebrate. [Photo: AP Nov. 29, 1947]

May 19, 1948: Five days after Israel proclaimed itself a nation, a 105-yard long stretch of barbed wire along Princess Mary Avenue in Jerusalem kept Jews and Arabs from coming into contact. On this day, Jordanian King Abdullah's troops were an imminent threat to the city. [Photo: AP May 19, 1948]

SEPT. 25, 1969: PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, in commando uniform with an automatic weapon over his shoulder, thought Palestinians had to develop an independent political ability, distinct from Arab states, to get back land lost in 1948. [Photos: AP 1960s]

[Photo: AP Nov. 4, 1948] Nov. 4, 1948: Arab refugees stream from northern Israel, on the road to Lebanon. They were fleeing from fighting in the Galilee region. The Arab-Israeli war began the day after Israel declared its independence. As many as 1-million Palestinians left their homes between December 1947 and January 1949.

Oct. 18, 1973: Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, left, stands with Maj. Gen. Ariel Sharon on the west bank of the Suez Canal. The Israelis had regrouped after Egypt and Syria attacked. Today, Sharon is Israel's prime minister. [Photo: AP Oct. 18, 1973]

May 7, 1981: Prime Minister Menachem Begin declared that as long as he was leader of the Jewish state, Israel would never give up any portion of the occupied territories. [Photo: AP May 7, 1981]

Nov. 20, 1977: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat took the dramatic step of flying to Jerusalem and addressing the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. Having made peace with Israel, Sadat was assassinated by a militant Islamic group. [Photo: AP Nov. 20, 1977]

Sept. 13, 1993: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat agreed on a peace plan brokered by President Bill Clinton. Eight years later, the problems are as intractable as ever. [Photo: AP Sept. 13, 1993]

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