1861: European powers led by France intervene on the side of the Maronites and force the Ottomans to establish the Maronite-dominated Mutesarrifiyyet of Mount Lebanon. 1868: The American University in Beirut established under the name of the Syrian Protestant College. 1868: the Syrian Scientific Society founded in Beirut. 1874: Jerusalem Sanjak becomes a Mutesarrifiyyet gaining a special administrative status. 1877–1878: The Russo-Turkish War causes increased taxation in Syria. 1882–1903: The First Aliyah took place in which 25,000–35,000 Jew immigrants immigrated to Ottoman Syria. 1887-8: Ottoman Palestine was divided into Jerusalem Sanjak, Nablus Sanjak and Acre Sanjak. 1893: A fire destroys the Great Mosque of Damascus. 1895: Construction of railway Beirut-Damascus. 1895: Construction of railway line Damascus-Rayek. 29–31 August 1897: The First Zionist Congress is held in Basel, Switzerland, in which the Basel Declaration was approved which determined that the Zionist movement ultimate aim is to establish a homeland for the Jewish people in the region of Palestine secured under public law. 1898: German Kaiser Wilhelm visits Jerusalem to dedicate the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. He meets Theodor Herzl outside city walls. 20th century 30 October 1918: Sinai and Palestine campaign: The British Sinai and Palestine Campaign officially ends with the signing of the Armistice of Mudros and, shortly thereafter, the Ottoman Empire is dissolved. 3 October 1918 – Sinai and Palestine campaign: The forces of the Arab revolt led by Prince Faysal enter Damascus. In 1920 Prince Faysal becomes the king of the Arab Kingdom of Syria for a short period. 1 October 1918 – Sinai and Palestine campaign: A combined Arab and British force occupy Damascus. 23 September – Sinai and Palestine campaign: British occupation of Haifa is completed. 19 September–1 October 1918 – Sinai and Palestine campaign: Battle of Megiddo 14 July 1918 – Sinai and Palestine campaign: Battle of Abu Tellul June 1918 – First meeting between the Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann and the son of the Sharif of Mecca Hashemite Prince Faisal, who led the Arab forces in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, which takes place in Faisal's headquarters in Aqaba in an attempt to establish favourable relations between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East. 4 April 1918 – The first edition of the Hebrew-language daily newspaper "Haaretz" is published, sponsored by the British military government in Palestine. 1918: Forces of the Arab Revolt enter Damascus accompanied