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Key Dates in Israel's History |
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 1896 - 1947
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| February 14, 1896 |
Publication of Theodor Herzl's treatise "The Jewish
State" |
| August 29, 1897 |
Opening of First Zionist Conference at Basel,
Switzerland |
| November 2, 1917 |
Issuing of Balfour Declaration: British support for a "Jewish Homeland" |
| April 24, 1920 |
Britain assigned mandatory power over Palestine at San Remo conference |
| August 23, 1929 |
Arab attack on Jewish community of Hebron |
| April 15, 1936 |
Arab revolt begins |
| May 17, 1939 |
British White Paper limiting Jewish immigration to Palestine passes |
| December 1945 |
Initiation of Arab League Boycott (on the Jewish community of Palestine) |
| July 22, 1946 |
Irgun bomb King David Hotel |
| February 14, 1947 |
Britain Gives U.N. Responsibility for Palestine |
| November 29, 1947 |
U.N. Partition Plan approved (Resolution 181) |
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1948 - 1967
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| May 14, 1948 |
Declaration of the State of Israel |
| May 15, 1948 - January 1949 |
War of Independence |
| January 25, 1949 |
Israel's first national election takes place; David Ben-Gurion elected Prime Minister |
| May 1950 |
Operation Ali Baba begins; brings 113,000 Iraqi Jews to Israel |
| September 1950 |
Operation Magic Carpet completed; 47,000 Yemeni Jews brought to Israel |
| October 29 -November 6, 1956
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Suez Campaign |
| October 10, 1959 |
Creation of Fatah |
| January 1964 |
Creation of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) |
| January 1, 1965 |
Planned Fatah Attack of Israeli Water system (Land Day) |
| May 15 - 22, 1967 |
Egyptian Mobilization in the Sinai/Closure of the Tiran Straits |
| June 5 - 10, 1967 |
Six Day War |
| November 22, 1967 |
Adoption of U.N. Security Council Resolution 242 |
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1968 - 1973
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| April 4, 1968 |
Establishment of Jewish settlement in Hebron |
| July 18, 1968 |
Hijacking of El Al airliner by PLO |
| February 1 - 4, 1969 |
Arafat becomes PLO Chairman |
| March 8, 1969 - August 7, 1970
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War of Attrition |
| September 5, 1972 |
Massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at Munich Olympics |
| October 6 - 24, 1973 |
Yom Kippur War |
| October 17, 1973 |
Arab Oil Embargo |
| October 19, 1973 |
U.S. Sends $2.2 billion in military aid to Israel to counter Soviet arms shipments to Egypt |
| October 22, 1973 |
Adoption of U.N. Security Council Resolution 338 |
| November 5, 1973 |
Kissinger begins shuttle diplomacy |
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1974 - 1979
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| May 15, 1974 |
Attack on school in northern Israeli town of Ma'alot |
| November 10, 1975 |
"Zionism Is Racism" resolution passed by the U.N. |
| May 17, 1977 |
Menachem Begin becomes PM/Likud victory in Israeli elections |
| November 19, 1977 |
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visits Jerusalem |
| September 17, 1978 |
Camp David accords signed |
| March 26, 1979 |
Egypt-Israel peace treaty signed
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1981 - 1987
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| June 7, 1981 |
Israel attacks Iraq's Osiraq nuclear reactor |
| October 6, 1981 |
Assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat |
| April 25, 1982 |
Final Israeli withdrawal from Sinai |
| June 6, 1982 |
Operation "Peace for the Galilee" launched; start of Lebanon War |
| August 21, 1982 |
PLO evacuation of Lebanon |
| September 16 - 17, 1982 |
Attack on Sabra and Shatila by Christian Phalangists |
| September 15, 1983 |
Begin resignation |
| October 23, 1983 |
Bombing of U.S. Marine barrack in Beirut |
| September 14, 1984 |
Formation of Israeli National Unity Government |
| November 1984 |
Operation Moses airlifts 7,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel |
| June 10, 1985 |
Withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon; Isrsel retains buffer zone in southern Lebanon |
| October 7, 1986 |
Hijacking of Achille Lauro |
| December 8, 1987 |
Start of the Intifada |
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1991 - 1995
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| January 16 - February 27, 1991
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Gulf War; Iraq launches SCUD missilies at Israel |
| May 24, 1991 |
Operation Solomon airlifts 14,400 Ethiopian Jews to Israel |
| October 30, 1991 |
Madrid Peace Conference |
| December 16, 1991 |
U.N. repeals "Zionism Is Racism" resolution |
| June 23, 1992 |
Labor victory in Israeli elections; Yitzhak Rabin elected Prime Minister |
| January 19, 1993 |
Israel repeals ban on contacts with PLO |
| August 30, 1993 |
Secret agreement between Israel and the PLO in Oslo announced |
| September 9, 1993 |
Israel-PLO letters of mutual recognition exchanged |
| September 13, 1993 |
Israel-Palestinian Declaration of Principles announced |
| February 25, 1994 |
Jewish gunman kills 29 Palestinian worshippers in Hebron |
| April 6, 1994 |
Afula suicide bombing |
| May 4, 1994 |
Agreement on the Gaza Strip and Jericho reached |
| May 13, 1994 |
Israeli withdrawal from Jericho |
| May 18, 1994 |
Israeli withdrawal from Gaza |
| July 1, 1994 |
Arafat enters Gaza |
| October 9, 1994 |
Hamas kidnaps and kills an Israeli soldier |
| October 14, 1994 |
Rabin, Peres and Arafat awarded Nobel Peace Prize |
| October 19, 1994 |
Tel Aviv bus bombing |
| October 26, 1994 |
Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty |
| December 1, 1994 |
Transfer of West Bank administrative control to Palestinians |
| December 11, 1994 |
Jordan and Israel open embassies |
| January 22,1995 |
Beit Lid suicide bombing |
| April 9, 1995 |
Gaza suicide bombings |
| September 28, 1995 |
Signing of Oslo II agreement |
| November 4, 1995 |
Assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin |
| November 13 |
Israel redeploys from Palestinian population centers |
| December 27, 1995 |
Israel-Syria negotiations at Wye Plantation begin |
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1996 - 1999
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| January 20, 1996 |
First Palestinian elections |
| February 25, 1996 |
Jerusalem/Ashkelon suicide bombings |
| March 3, 1996 |
Bombing of bus in downtown Jerusalem kills 19 |
| March 4, 1996 |
Tel Aviv suicide bombing |
| March 13, 1996 |
Sharm-el-Sheikh “Summit of Peacemakers” |
| May 29, 1996 |
Benyamin Netanyahu elected Prime Minister |
| September 24, 1996 |
Palestinian "Tunnel Riots" erupt |
| January 17, 1997 |
Israeli withdrawal from Hebron |
| March 13, 1997 |
Jordanian soldier kills 7 Israeli schoolgirls |
| June 10, 1997 |
United States Congress recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's "United Capital" |
| July 30, 1997 |
Hamas suicide bomber explodes in a Jerusalem market, killing 16 |
| September 4, 1997 |
Three bombs on Jerusalem pedestrian mall, kill 5, injure 181 |
| October 23, 1998 |
Israel-Palestinian "Wye Memorandum" |
| December 10, 1998 |
Palestinians vote to change PLO charter in presence of President Clinton |
| May 17, 1999 |
Ehud Barak elected Prime Minister |
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2000 - 2001
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| May 24, 2000 |
Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon |
| July 11 - 25, 2000 |
Camp David Summit |
| September 28, 2000 |
Ariel Sharon visits Temple Mount |
| September 29, 2000 |
Outbreak of widespread Palestinian violence, "Second (al-Aqsa) Intifada" begins |
| October 7, 2000 |
Hezbollah kidnaps 3 Israeli soldiers from Lebanon border |
| October 12, 2000 |
Two Israeli soldiers lynched by Palestinian mob in Ramallah |
| October 16 - 17,2000 |
Sharm el-Sheikh Summit |
| November 22, 2000 |
Suicide bomb in Hadera |
| February 6, 2001 |
Ariel Sharon elected Prime Minister |
| May 18, 2001 |
Suicide attack at Netanya shopping mall, 5 killed |
| May 20, 2001 |
Mitchell Report published |
| June 1, 2001 |
Suicide bombing of Tel Aviv night club kills 21 youths |
| August 9, 2001 |
Suicide bombing at pizzeria in Jerusalem, 15 killed |
| November 29, 2001 |
Bombing of inter-city bus, 3 killed |
| December 1, 2001 |
Suicide bombing in Pedestrian mall in central Jerusalem, 11 killed |
| December 2, 2001 |
Suicide bombing of bus in Haifa, 15 killed |
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2002 - 2003
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| January 4, 2002 |
Israel stops massive Palestinian arms shipment on Karine A ship |
| March 2, 2002 |
Suicide bombing outside bar Mitzvah Party in Jerusalem, 11 killed |
| March 5, 2002 |
Gunman opens fire at a Tel-Aviv restaurant - 3 killed |
| March 9, 2002 |
Suicide bombing of Jerusalem café, 11 killed |
| March 12, 2002 |
Hezbollah operatives open fire on Israeli vehicles in Kibbutz Metzuba, 6 killed |
| March 21, 2002 |
Suicide bombing in downtown Jerusalem , 5 killed |
| March 27, 2002 |
Suicide bomber kills 30 at Passover seder at Netanya hotel |
| March 29, 2002 |
Female suicide bombing attacks Jerusalem supermarket |
| March 29, 2002 |
IDF begins Operation Defensive Shield to Uproot Terrorist Infrastructure in West Bank |
| March 31, 2002 |
Suicide bombing in Haifa restaurant, kills 15 |
| April 10, 2002 |
Suicide bombing of bus traveling from Haifa to Jerusalem , kills 8 |
| April 12, 2002 |
Female suicide bomber attacks Jerusalem market, kills 6 |
| May 7, 2002 |
Suicide bombing of Rishon Le-Zion billiards hall, kills 15 |
| June 5, 2002 |
Suicide bombing of bus in Meggiddo Junction, kills 17 |
| June 18, 2002 |
Suicide bus bombing in Jerusalem , kills 18, including children |
| June 19, 2002 |
Suicide bombing at bus stop in Jerusalem , kills 7 |
| June 24, 2002 |
U.S. President George Bush speech calls for replacement of Palestinian Authority leadership to crack down on terrorism, to be followed by interim Palestinian state (basis of future Roadmap plan) |
| July 17, 2002 |
Suicide bombing of Tel-Aviv market, kills 5 |
| July 31, 2002 |
Suicide bombing of cafeteria at Hebrew University , kills 9 |
| August 4, 2002 |
Suicide bombing of bus in Meron Junction, kills 9 |
| September 19, 2002 |
Suicide bus bombing in Tel Aviv, kills 6 |
| October 21, 2002 |
Car bomb kills 14 people on a bus at Karkur Junction |
| November 10, 2002 |
An Al-Aqsa gunman kills 5 at Kibbutz Metzer |
| November 21, 2002 |
Suicide bombing of Jerusalem bus, kills 11 |
| November 28, 2002 |
Gunman attacks Likud Party headquarters in Beit Shean as party members gather to vote in the primaries, kills 6 |
| January 5, 2003 |
Two simultaneous suicide bombings in Tel Aviv, kills 23 |
| March 5, 2003 |
Suicide bombing of Haifa bus, kills 17 |
| April 20, 2003 |
Suicide bombing at Mike’s Place, a popular Tel-Aviv blues bar, kills 3 |
| April 30, 2003 |
The “Road Map for Peace” is presented by the Quartet to the Israelis and Palestinians |
| May 18, 2003 |
Suicide bombing of Jerusalem bus, kills 7 |
| June 11, 2003 |
Suicide bombing of Jerusalem bus, kills 17 |
| August 19, 2003 |
Suicide bombing of Jerusalem bus, kills 24 |
| September 8, 2003 |
Suicide bombing of cafeteria at Hebrew University , kills 9 |
| September 8, 2003 |
Suicide bombing of Jerusalem caf,e kills 8 |
| October 4, 2003 |
Suicide bombing at Haifa cafe, kills 21 |
| December 18, 2003 |
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon first makes reference to “Unilateral Disengagement” at a conference in Herzliya |
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2004 - 2005
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| January 29, 2004 |
Suicide bombing on Jerusalem bus, kills 11 |
| January 29, 2004 |
Israel swaps prisoners with the terrorist group Hezbollah; releases 435 Arab prisoners in return for the remains of murdered soldiers and a kidnapped Israeli businessman |
| February 22, 2004 |
Suicide bombing of Jerusalem bus kills 8 |
| March 14, 2004 |
Double suicide at an Ashdod port, kills 8 |
| April 14, 2004 |
President Bush writes a letter to PM Sharon expressing support for disengagement and pledging that Israel will not be expected to return to the pre-1967 borders in any final status agreement |
| May 4, 2004 |
Sharon holds a Likud party referendum, where the disengagement Plan is rejected by a sound margin |
| June 6, 2004 |
Sharon ’s cabinet approves the “Amended Disengagement Plan,” which calls for a separate vote on the dismantling of each settlement. Effi Eitam and Yitzhak Levy (both National Religious Party members) resign from the cabinet as a result of the decision. Later, the entire NRP withdraws from the Government, leaving Sharon with a minority coalition |
| July 25, 2004 |
Tens of thousands of Israelis form a “human chain” from the Erez Crossing at Gaza to the Western Wall in Jerusalem to demonstrate opposition to the disengagement. |
| August 31, 2004 |
Two simultaneous suicide bombing in Beersheba kills 16 |
| September 14, 2004 |
The cabinet approves plans to compensate the evacuated settlers. |
| October 26, 2004 |
Knesset preliminarily approves the Disengagement Plan. |
| November 11, 2004 |
Yassir Arafat dies in a Paris hospital |
| December 14, 2004 |
Israel , Egypt , and the US sign a partial free trade deal |
| December 23, 2004 |
The first phase of PA municipal elections are held; Hamas secure nearly half the seats |
| January 2005 |
Sharon forms a National Unity Government with the Labor Party. Shimon Peres is granted the title of “Vice-Premier” |
| January 9, 2005 |
Mahmoud Abbas is elected PA president by a wide margin |
| February 8, 2005 |
PA President Abbas and Israeli PM Sharon meet at Sharm- el-Sheikh , Egypt , and declare an “end to the fighting.” |
| February 25, 2005 |
Suicide bombing at Tel Aviv nightclub, kills 5 |
| February 26, 2005 |
The Knesset gives final approval to the Disengagement Plan, and rejects calls by some ministers for a national referendum |
| May 5, 2005 |
The second phase of the Palestinian municipal elections are held; Fatah improves showing, Hamas wins around 1/3 of the contested seats |
| May 9, 2005 |
The Disengagement is postponed from July 20th to August 15th to prevent it from falling during the 3-week traditional Jewish mourning period preceding the fast day of Tisha Ba’av |
| May 16 , 2005 |
Anti-disengagement protestors block over 40 intersections in Israel |
| May 26 , 2005 |
Bush hosts Palestinian President Abbas; Bush reaffirms his commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state |
| June 19, 2005 |
Sharon and Palestinian President Abbas agree that settler homes will be demolished following the withdrawal. According to the agreement, Israel will demolish the homes and the Palestinians will be paid with international funds to clean up the rubble |
| July 12, 2005 |
Suicide bombing of Netanya mall kills 5 |
| July 13, 2005 |
The Gaza Strip is declared a “closed military zone,” meaning that non-resident Israelis can no longer enter the area |
| July 18 - 19, 2005 |
Tens of thousands of Israelis gather in the western Negev town of Netivot and plan to march on Gush Katif ( Gaza ). The IDF prevents the mass march from reaching Gaza |
| August 15, 2005 |
The evacuation of settlers from the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the northern West Bank begins |
| September 12, 2005 |
The Israeli military completes its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip |
| December 5, 2005 |
Suicide bombing at the entrance of a shopping mall in Netanya kills 5 |
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2006 - 2009
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| January 4, 2006 |
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has a massive stroke that incapacitates him; Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is appointed Acting Prime Minister and assumes Sharon’s responsibilities |
| January 26, 2006 |
Palestinian parliamentary elections; Hamas wins 74 seats in the 132-seat legislature |
| March 28, 2006 |
Israeli elections; Kadima wins 29 of the Knesset’s 120 seats |
| March 30, 2006 |
Suicide bombing outside Kedumim in the northern West Bank kills 4 |
| April 13, 2006 |
Ehud Olmert officially assumes the post of Prime Minister of Israel |
| April 17, 2006 |
Suicide bombing near the old central bus station in Tel Aviv kills 11 |
| June 25, 2006 |
IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit is kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists who crossed the border into Israel from Gaza and attacked an IDF army post; Israel responds with expanded military operations in Gaza aimed at rescuing Shalit and stopping the firing of Qassam rockets from Gaza into Israel |
| July 12, 2006 |
Hezbollah terrorists spark the second Lebanon War when they cross the border into Israel and attack an Israeli military patrol, killing eight soldiers and kidnapping two others |
| August 11, 2006 |
The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopts the U.S.-France authored Resolution 1701, which calls for the cessation of hostilities and the implementation of an armed international force comprised of 15,000 U.N. troops along with an additional 15,000 Lebanese troops to secure south Lebanon. The resolution mandates the disarming of Hezbollah. |
| August 14, 2006 |
The cessation of hostilities goes into effect, and Israeli troops begin a phased withdrawal from Lebanon. |
| April 30, 2007 |
Winograd Committee investigating Israeli decision making in Second Lebanon War releases preliminary report; final report issued in January 2008 |
| June 15, 2007 |
Hamas takes over Gaza |
| November 27, 2007 |
Forty-six nations gather at Annapolis, Maryland for a
U.S.-hosted conference intended to renew Israeli Palestinian peace talks
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| March 6, 2008 |
A Palestinian gunman attacked a Jerusalem yeshiva,
killing 8.
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| July 16, 2008 |
Hezbollah releases the bodies of captive Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, whose kidnapping sparked the Second Lebanon War. |
| December 27, 2008 |
In response to increasing rocket barrages Israel launches airstrikes against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza strip. |
| January 18, 2009 |
Israel signs a unilateral ceasefire. Twelve hours later Hamas agrees to a week-long ceasefire. |
| February 10 2009 |
Israel hold elections. |
| March 31, 2009 |
Benjamin Netanyahu is sworn in as Israel’s Prime Minister. |
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* through March 2009
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