Flag Description: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known
as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal
blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag
Israel
has emerged as a regional economic and military powerhouse, leveraging its
booming high-tech sector, massive defense industry, and concerns about
Iran to foster partnerships around the world, even with some of its former
foes. The State of Israel was declared in 1948, after Britain withdrew
from its mandate of Palestine. The UN proposed partitioning the area into
Arab and Jewish states, and Arab armies that rejected the UN plan were
defeated. Israel was admitted as a member of the UN in 1949 and saw rapid
population growth, primarily due to migration from Europe and the Middle
East, over the following years. Israel fought wars against its Arab
neighbors in 1967 and 1973, followed by peace treaties with Egypt in 1979
and Jordan in 1994. Israel took control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in
the 1967 war, and subsequently administered those territories through
military authorities. Israel and Palestinian officials signed a number of
interim agreements in the 1990s that created an interim period of
Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza. Israel withdrew from Gaza
in 2005. While the most recent formal efforts to negotiate final status
issues occurred in 2013-2014, the US continues its efforts to advance
peace. Immigration to Israel continues, with more than20,000 new
immigrants, mostly Jewish, in 2020.
The Israeli economy has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last 25
years, led by cutting-edge, high-tech sectors. Offshore gas discoveries in
the Mediterranean, most notably in the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields,
place Israel at the center of a potential regional natural gas market.
However, longer-term structural issues such as low labor force
participation among minority populations, low workforce productivity, high
costs for housing and consumer staples, and a lack of competition, remain
a concern for many Israelis and an important consideration for Israeli
politicians. Former Prime Minister Benjamin NETANYAHU dominated Israel's
political landscape from 2009 to June 2021, becoming Israel's longest
serving prime minister before he was unseated by Naftali BENNETT, after
Israel's fourth election in two years. BENNETT formed the most
ideologically diverse coalition in Israel's history, including the
participation of an Arab-Israeli party. Under the terms of the coalition
agreement, BENNETT would remain as prime minister until August 2023, then
Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair LAPID would succeed
him. Israel signed normalization agreements – brokered by the US – with
Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco in late 2020 and reached an
agreement with Sudan in early 2021.
Israel Timeline
17th-6th C. BCE
BIBLICAL TIMES
(BCE -
Before the Common Era)
c.17th century
Drawings by
Noam Nadav
Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob -
patriarchs of the Jewish people and
bearers of a belief in one God - settle in the Land of Israel.
Famine forces Israelites to migrate to Egypt.
c.13th century
Exodus from Egypt:
Moses leads Israelites from Egypt, followed by 40 years of wandering
in the desert.
Torah, including the Ten Commandments, received at Mount Sinai.
First neighborhood
built outside walls of Jerusalem's Old City.
1882-1903
First Aliya
(large-scale immigration), mainly from Russia.
1897
First Zionist
Congress convened by Theodor Herzl in Basel, Switzerland; Zionist
Organization founded.
1904-14
Second Aliya, mainly
from Russia and Poland.
1909
First kibbutz,
Degania, and first modern all-Jewish city, Tel Aviv, founded.
1917
400 years of Ottoman
rule ended by British conquest; British Foreign Minister Balfour
pledges support for establishment of a "Jewish national home in
Palestine"
Histadrut (General
Federation of Labor) and Haganah (Jewish defense
organization) founded. Vaad Leumi (National Council) set up by Jewish community
(Yishuv) to conduct its affairs.
1921
First moshav
(cooperative village), Nahalal, founded.
1922
Britain granted
Mandate for Palestine (Land of Israel) by League of Nations;
Transjordan set up on three-fourths of the area, leaving one fourth
for the Jewish national home.
Jewish Agency representing Jewish community vis-a-vis Mandate
authorities set up.
1924
Technion, first
institute of technology, founded in Haifa.
1924-32
Fourth Aliya,
mainly from Poland.
1925
Hebrew University of
Jerusalem opened on Mount Scopus.
1929
Hebron Jews
massacred by Arab terrorists.
1931
Etzel,
Jewish underground organization, founded.
1933-39
Fifth Aliya,
mainly from Germany.
1936-39
Anti-Jewish riots
instigated by Arab terrorists.
1939
Jewish immigration
severely limited by British White Paper.
1939-45
World War II;
Holocaust in Europe.
1941
Lehi
underground movement formed; Palmach, strike force of
Haganah, set up.
1944
Jewish Brigade
formed as part of British forces.
1947
UN proposes the
establishment of Arab and Jewish statesin the Land.
STATE OF ISRAEL
1948
End of British
Mandate (14 May) State of Israel proclaimed (14 May).
Israel invaded by five Arab states (15 May).
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) established.
War of Independence (May 1948-July 1949).
1949
Armistice
agreements signed with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon.
Jerusalem divided under Israeli and Jordanian rule. First Knesset (parliament) elected.
Israel admitted to United Nations as 59th member.
Israel becomes an
associate member of the European Common Market.
1977
Likud forms
government after Knesset elections, end of 30 years of Labor rule.
Visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem.
1978
Camp David Accords
include framework for comprehensive peace in the Middle East and
proposal for Palestinian self-government.
1979
Israel-Egypt Peace
Treatysigned.
Prime Minister Menachem Begin and President Anwar Sadat awarded
Nobel Peace Prize.
1981
Israel Air Force
destroys Iraqi nuclear reactor just before it is to become
operative.
1982
Israel's three-stage
withdrawal from Sinai Peninsula completed.
Operation Peace for Galilee removes Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) terrorists from Lebanon.
1984
National unity
government (Likud and Labor) formed after elections.
Operation Moses, immigration of Jews from Ethiopia.
1985
Free Trade Agreement
signed with United States.
1987
Widespread violence
(Intifada) starts in Israeli-administered areas.
1988
Likud government
wins elections.
1989
Four-point peace
initiative proposed by Israel.
Start of mass immigration of Jews from former Soviet Union.
1991
Israel attacked by
Iraqi Scud missiles during Gulf war.
Middle East peace conference convened in Madrid; Operation
Solomon, airlift of Jews from Ethiopia.
1992
Diplomatic relations
established with China and India.
New government headed by Yitzhak Rabin of Labor Party.
1993
Declaration of
Principleson Interim Self-Government Arrangements for the
Palestinians signed by Israel and PLO, as representative of the
Palestinian people (Oslo Accords).
1994
Implementation of
Palestinian self-government inGaza Strip and Jericho area. Full
diplomatic relations with the Holy See. Morocco and Tunisia
interest offices set up. Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty signed. Rabin,
Peres, Arafat awarded Nobel Peace Prize.
1995
Broadened
Palestinian self-government implemented in West Bank and Gaza Strip;
Palestinian Council elected. Prime Minister Rabin assassinated at
peace rally. Shimon Peres becomes prime minister.
1996
.Fundamentalist Arab
terrorism against Israel escalates. Operation Grapes of Wrath,
retaliation for Hizbullah terrorists' attacks on northern Israel.
Trade representation offices set up in Oman and Qatar. Likud forms
government after Knesset elections. Binyamin Netanyahu elected prime
minister. Omani trade representation office opened in Tel Aviv
1997
.Hebron Protocol
signed by Israel and the PA
1998
Israel celebrates
its 50th anniversary. Israel and the PLO sign the Wye River
Memorandum to facilitate implementation of the Interim Agreement.
1999
Ehud Barak
(left-wing One Israel party) elected prime minister; forms coalition
government. Israel and the PLO sign the Sharm-el-Sheikh Memorandum.
2000
Visit of Pope Paul
II. Israel withdraws from the Security Zone in southern Lebanon.
Israel admitted to UN Western European and Others Group. Renewed
violence (Second Intifada). Prime Minister Barak resigns.
2001
Ariel Sharon (Likud)
elected Prime Minister; forms broad-based unity government. The
Sharm-el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee report (Mitchell Report)
issued. Palestinian-Israeli Security Implementation Work Plan (Tenet
ceasefire plan) proposed. Rechavam Ze'evy, Minister of Tourism,
assassinated by Palestinian terrorists.
2002
Israel launches
Operation Defensive Shield in response to massive Palestinian
terrorist attacks. Israel begins building the anti-terrorist fence
to stop West Bank terrorists from killing Israeli citizens. Prime
Minister Sharon disperses the Knesset, calling for new elections to
be held on 28 January 2003.
2003
Right-of-center
coalition government formed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Israel
accepts the Roadmap.
2005
Israel carries out
the
Disengagement Plan, ending Israel's presence in the Gaza Strip.
2006
After Prime
Minister Sharon suffers a stroke, Ehud Olmert becomes acting prime
minister. Following elections on 28 March, Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert forms new government led by the Kadima Party. Israel
carried out military operations against Palestinian terrorists in
Gaza after kidnapping of Israeli soldier. The Second War in
Lebanon, during which Israel carried out military operations
against Hizbullah terrorism from southern Lebanon, following
missile attacks and kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers.
2007
Shimon Peres
elected President by the Knesset. Israel declares Gaza "hostile
territory" following Hamas violent takeover of Gaza Strip.
2008
Israel celebrates
its 60th anniversary. Israel launches its Gaza Operation
(Operation Cast Lead) in response to the barrage of over 10,000
rockets and mortars fired from the Gaza Strip.
2009
Benjamin Netanyahu
is elected Prime Minister in national elections held in February
2009, and forms a broad-based coalition government The city of Tel
Aviv celebrates its 100th anniversary.
2010
Israel joins the
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Following World War
II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine.
On 29 November 1947
the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine or United Nations General
Assembly Resolution 181, a plan to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict in the
British Mandate of Palestine, was approved by the United Nations General
Assembly, at the UN World Headquarters in New York.
The UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an
arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the
Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two
sides.
1948 War of
Independence-The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, referred to as the "War of
Independence or as the "War of Liberation by Israelis, is the first in a
series of armed conflicts fought between Israel and its Arab neighbors in
the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict.
Department of History, U.S. Military Academy
After the United
Nations proposed to partition the territory of the British Mandate of
Palestine into two states, Jewish and Arab, the Arabs refused to accept it and
the armies of Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon and Iraq, supported by
others, attacked the newly established State of Israel which they refused to
recognize. As a result, the region was divided between Israel, Egypt and
Transjordan.
1956 Sinai
War-The Suez Crisis was a war fought on Egyptian territory in 1956. The
conflict pitted Egypt against Israel, the United Kingdom and the Fourth
French Republic.Eventually, pressure from the United States forced Britain,
France, and Israel to withdraw.
Department of History, U.S. Military Academy
1967 Six Day
War-The Six-Day War was fought between Israel and the Arab states of
Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria. When Egypt expelled the United Nations
Emergency Force from the Sinai Peninsula, increased its military activity
near the border, and blockaded the Straits of Tiran to Israeli ships, Israel
launched a pre-emptive attack on Egypt's air force fearing an imminent
attack by Egypt. Jordan in turn attacked the Israeli cities of Jerusalem and
Netanya. At the war's end, Israel had gained control of the Gaza Strip, the
Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights.
1973 Yom Kippur
War-The Yom Kippur War was fought from October 6 to October 26, 1973,
between Israel and a coalition of Arab nations led by Egypt and Syria. The
war began on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur with a surprise joint attack
by Egypt and Syria crossing the cease-fire lines in the Sinai and Golan
Heights, respectively, which had been captured by Israel in 1967 during the
Six-Day War.The Egyptians and Syrians advanced during the first 24–48 hours,
after which momentum began to swing in Israel's favor. By the second week of
the war, the Syrians had been pushed entirely out of the Golan Heights. In
the Sinai to the south, the Israelis had struck at the "seam" between two
invading Egyptian armies, crossed the Suez Canal (where the old ceasefire
line had been), and cut off an entire Egyptian army just as a United Nations
cease-fire came into effect.
On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979
Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty.
Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration
of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords") guiding an interim period
of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with
Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.
In addition, on 25 May 2000, Israel withdrew unilaterally from southern
Lebanon, which it had occupied since 1982. In keeping with the framework
established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations
were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to
achieve a permanent settlement.
In April 2003, US President Bush, working in conjunction with the EU, UN,
and Russia - the "Quartet" - took the lead in laying out a roadmap to a
final settlement of the conflict by 2005, based on reciprocal steps by the
two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine.
However, progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by
Palestinian-Israeli violence between September 2000 and February 2005. An
agreement reached at Sharm al-Sheikh in February 2005 significantly reduced
the violence.
In the summer of 2005, Israel unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip,
evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most
points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS in January 2006
to head the Palestinian Legislative Council froze relations between Israel
and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Ehud OLMERT became prime minister in
March 2006; he shelved plans to unilaterally evacuate from most of the West
Bank following an Israeli military operation in Gaza in June-July 2006 and a
34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon in June-August 2006. OLMERT in
June 2007 resumed talks with the PA after HAMAS seized control of the Gaza
Strip and PA President Mahmoud ABBAS formed a new government without HAMAS.
OLMERT in September 2008 resigned in the wake of several corruption
allegations, but remained prime minister until the new coalition government
under former Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU was completed in late March
2009, following the February general election.
Geography
Area: 20,330 sq. km.1 (7,850 sq. mi.); about the size of New Jersey.
Cities: Capital--Jerusalem.2 Other cities--Tel Aviv, Haifa.
Terrain: Plains, mountains, desert, and coast.
Climate: Temperate, except in desert areas.
Israel’s Prime Ministers
David Ben-Gurion
(1948-54)(1955-63)
Moshe Sharett
(1954-55)
Levi Eshkol
(1963-69)
Golda Meir
(1969-74)
Yitzhak Rabin
(1974-77) (1992-95)
Menachem Begin
(1977-83)
Yitzhak Shamir
(1983-84) (1986-92)
Shimon Peres
(1984-86) (1995-96)
Benjamin Netanyahu
(1996-99)
Ehud Barak
(1999-01)
Ariel Sharon
(2001-06)
Ehud Olmert
(2006-2009 )
Benjamin Netanyahu
(2009-2021)
Naftali Bennett
(2021-)
Source:
Wikepedia, United States Department of State, CIA Factbook, Yale Law School,
Jewish Virtual Library,Ministry of Foreign Affairs - The State of Israel