1917
2 November: British government publishes “Balfour
Declaration” which states: “His Majesty’s
Government view with favour the establishment in
Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,
and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the
achievement of this object, it being clearly under-
stood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice
the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish
communities in Palestine, or the rights and political
status enjoyed by Jews in any other country”
December: British General Sir Edmund Henry
Hynman Allenby captures Jerusalem and establishes
martial law. First World War results in collapse of
Ottoman Empire
1923
10 September: Helmut Ostermann, who later changes
his name to Josef Ostermann, then to Uri Avnery, born
in Beckum, Westfalen
29 September: League of Nations Mandate for British
rule in Palestine officially comes into force
1933
Helmut Ostermann (Uri Avnery) changes his name to
Josef Ostermann and attends catholic Auguste Viktoria
Gymnasium in Hanover as the only Jewish pupil. One
of his fellow pupils is Rudolf Augstein (who later
founded Der Spiegel)
November: Ostermann family emigrates from Hanover
to Palestine
1936-1939
The Arab Revolt
1937
Josef Ostermann (Uri Avnery) leaves school to work and
contribute to the support of his impoverished family
1938 Josef Ostermann joins underground organization the
Irgun - the “National Military Organization”
1941
Josef Ostermann changes his name to Uri Avnery. After
the Stern Gang splits from the Irgun, Uri Avnery also
leaves the organization but does not join the Stern
Gang, which calls itself “Lehi” (acronym of “Lohamei Herut Israel” - “Fighters for the Freedom of Israel”)
1947 19 November: UN Partition Resolution is passed,
dividing Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state,