History of Israel

This article has report/ratio with the modern history of the State of Israel. For the periods former to the creation of this State, please consult the following detailed articles:

the history of the biblical character Israel is treated in Jacob,
the ancient period is treated in Royaume of Israel,
the chronology of the various dominations on the territory of the Palestine (for the Jews Erets Israel) is treated in Histoire of Palestine,
the period preceding creation by the State of Israel is treated in Histoire of the Zionism.

This article also speaks about the history of the Zionism after the creation of the State.

Before 1947

See also: Jewish Judaism, , Zionism, History of the Zionism, chronological History of the Zionism, Balfour Declaration of 1917, Declaration Balfour, History of Palestine

1947-1948

Creation of the State of Israel

See the article detailed on the adoption of the Plane of division of Palestine.

In February 1947, whereas the idea of a State-refuge in Holy Land for the survivors of the Shoah is essential in the Western opinion, the British government gives the mandate which it held since 1920 on Palestine with the the United Nations.

November 30th, 1947, the United Nations adopt the Résolution 181 which envisages the division of Palestine in a Jewish State and an Arab State.

The Yichouv and the Jewish communities Zionists accommodate this vote favorably but the Palestinian Arabs and the worldwide Arab who militated for the constitution of an Arab State on all Palestine reject the resolution.

The shortly after the vote, the civil war bursts in Palestine between the Palestinian communities Jewish and Arab.

The war of 1948 and problems of refugees

See the detailed articles War of Palestine of 1948, Palestinian Exodus and Taken refuge Jewish of the Arab countries.

In January 1948, of the Arab volunteers enter to Palestine to assist Palestinian Arabic. In April, the Jewish forces, remained until there on the defensive, pass to the offensive. The Palestinian forces and the company are effrondrent. The May 15th, the shortly after the departure of the British, the close Arab States, opposed to the division, intervene. In theory combined, those ambitionnent different objectives and will fight their adversary in a disorganized and divided way. Following a series of operations intersected with truces, the Israeli forces overcome militarily on all fronts.

By gaining the Israeli-Arab War of 1948, Israel conquers 26% of additional territories compared to the plan of division, that is to say 81% of Palestine of 1947.

January 7th, 1949, an ultimate cease-fire is imposed successfully under the joint pressure of the British and the Americans. February 24th, 1949, Israelis and Egyptians sign with Rhodos, under the aegis of UNO, a agreement of armistice and armistices will be signed with the other protagonists the following months.

Between November 1947 and October 1948, the war will drive out their grounds and their houses, more than eight hundred and thousand Arab of Palestine, as a majority of the peasants, on the roads of the exile. Palestine which counts in 1947 two million inhabitants (Moslem, Jewish and Christian) sees an important displacement of population. Indeed, the conflict creates 750.000 Palestinian Réfugiés and 600.000 taken refuge Jewish.

This war marks the beginning of a very important immigration of Jews coming from the Arab countries and of Europe, with the implementation of a series of operations programmed as with the Yemen ( Magic Opération Carpet ) or Iraq ( Opération Ezra and Néhémie ).

from 1948 to 1967

1948-1952

Immigration in mass of Jews towards Israel, coming from the Arab countries and of Europe. Operations “flying Carpet” (in Yemen) and “Ezra and Néhémie” (in Iraq).

1950

Vote Loi of the Return.

1952

The presidency of the State of Israel is proposed with Albert Einstein, it refused.

1956

The Crise of Suez Canal makes following the nationalization of the Suez Canal by the Egypt. The France, the the United Kingdom and Israel conclude a secret agreement with Sevres to take the control of the channel. In October 1956, the Israeli invasion of the the Sinai is followed by the unloading of the British and French forces to Port-Saïd. The General meeting of UNO imposes a cease-fire and Britanniques, French and Israelis leave the channel to the Blue helmets in 1957.

1956-1962

French decolonization in North Africa: massive immigration of Jews coming from Morocco, of Tunisia, of Algeria. Creation of the towns of development in Israel.

1959

June: first demonstrations of Jews originating in North Africa against the social disparities, in the district of Wadi Salib to Haïfa.

1960-1962

Capture Adolf Eichmann in Argentina: it is brought in Israel to be judged there, then condemned to died and carried out on May 31st, 1962.

1962

End of the tacit embargo imposed on Israel by the government of the United States. First deliveries of weapons.

1963

David Ben Gourion withdraws political life and will settle definitively with the Kibboutz Sde Boker in the Negev.

1964

Foundation of the PLO (Liberation organization of Palestine) which decides the intensification of the fight of the Palestinians against Israel.

1965

Economic serious attack in Israel: unemployment, problems social and Yeridah (" descente" - emigration) of the country.

1966

The Israeli writer Shmuel Yosef Agnon receives the Nobel Prize Literature.

1967

War the six day old. “Reunification” of Jerusalem.

Egypt obtains the withdrawal of the troops of UNO in May 1967, remilitarizes the the Sinai and firm the Détroit of Tiran, passage-key of the Israeli maritime transport. May 15th, 1967, the Egyptian forces penetrated in the Sinai, contrary to the agreements of demilitarization of 1957.

The June 5th 1967, in front of the imminence of an Arab attack prepared and the regular Syrian bombardments since the plate of the Golan since the beginning of 1967, Israel launches a preventive offensive flash against Egypt, carried out by the general Moshe Dayan (see: War the Six Day old) and invites the Transjordanie to remain neutral. Jordan refuses and attacks Israel with heavy artillery on Jerusalem - western and the area of Tel Aviv. June 8th, Israel overcomes the Jordanian army and conquers the the West Bank. The Syrians continue to bombard the Israeli dwellings, orchards and agricultural silos since the plate of Golan; in answer on June 9th, Israel attacks the Syrians on Golan.

Egyptian, Jordanian and Syrian aviations are destroyed in one day. At the end of a six days blitzkrieg, Israel conquers the the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, the Golan (including the zone of the Fermes of Chebaa), the Péninsule of the the Sinai and Jerusalem-Is.

Additional surface taken plays thus the part of sedentary buffer zone in the event of new Arab attack, the lowest width of the country which can be crossed by a plane in a few moments only.

Front, the lowest width of Israel was of 14 kilometers, from where the sedentary need in front of this vulnerability still of topicality: an air attack against Israel takes between six minutes (from Saudi Arabia) and ten minutes to reach Jerusalem.

November 22nd, 1967, adoption of the resolution 242 (1967) of the Safety advice of UNO. This resolution stipulates the withdrawal of the Israeli armed forces occupied territories (in its French version) or from occupied territories (i.e. of occupied territories , in its English version) during the recent conflict. End of any claim or any state of belligerence, respect and recognition of sovereignty, the Territorial integrity and the political independence of each State of the area and their right to life in peace in sure and recognized, released borders of any threat or any act of violence. To bring a right solution to the problem of the refugees. To guarantee the territorial inviolability and the political independence of each State of the area, through various measurements such as, in particular the establishment of demilitarized zones.

From 1967 to 1987

1968

Beginning of the Aliyah of Jews coming from Soviet Union and beginning of a series of spectacular lawsuits antijuifs brought in Russia, against the “Refuzniks” or “captive of Sion”.

1969

Beginning of the War of attrition along the Suez Canal. Yasser Arafat becomes the leader of the PLO.

1969-1972

The Jewish and Israeli passengers of the air lines become the target of the terrorism of the Palestinian air.

1969

December, at the Arab top, Nasser refuses a new Israeli-Arab war.

1970

black September: the war bursts between the Palestinians and the Jordanian ones. Palestinian push (the Fedayin) threat the throne hachémite: attempted murder of the King Hussein of Jordan. Offensive of the Jordanian army against the Palestinian bases in Amman and Irbid of the 17 to the 27. Syro-Jordanian combat. Agreement of Amman on October 13rd signed between Yasser Arafat and the King Hussein.

1972

September 4th: See the detailed article Taken hostages of the Olympic Games of Munich. Eleven Israeli athletes are assassinated with the Olympic Games of Munich. The plays do not stop therefore.

1973

6 October 24th: to see the detailed article War of Kippour. October 6th, the most important feastday of the Kippour, of the Jewish Calendar, Egypt and Syria launch by surprised an attack coordinated against Israel: Egypt attacks by the the Sinai, Syria by the plate of the Golan (the plate of Golan controls the Lake Tibériade and all the water resources of the north of Israel). The Egyptian army while progressing quickly in the Sinai is found crossed of its supply, Israel benefits from this respite to take again the initiative thanks to the Sharon general: it makes cut the backs of the Egyptian army by sending men on other side of the channel. The Egyptian army is then forced with rendering. In front of the pressure of the United States, Egypt stops its armies and signs the peace agreement with Israel. Syria continues the war with the hope to recover the remainder of Golan, but without result.

The Israeli army is put in difficulty, but pushes back the attackers in a few days thanks to a supply in ammunition, by an American airlift. UNO adopts the October 22nd 1973 the Résolution 338 (1973), which reaffirms the validity of the resolution 242 (1967), adopted during the Guerre the Six Day old and calls all the parts with the conflict (the Egypt, the Syria, Israel, the Jordan) with an immediate cease-fire and negotiations in sight “ to found a peace fair and lasting in the Middle East ”.

The engagements cease the October 25th. The Israeli losses are heavy: more than 2500 died, of the thousands of casualties.

After the war, the Arab countries increase the oil price and cease their exports towards the countries having supported Israel, it is the beginning of the Oil crisis of 1973.

1975

October 17th: the General meeting of UNO votes for a resolution (resolution 3379) comparing the Sionisme to racism (resolution cancelled by resolution 46/86 of UNO on December 16th, 1991).

(December 16th, 1991) . Beginning of the civil war with Lebanon.

1976

Record year for the Aliyah coming from the USSR.

June 27th - July 4th: Raid of Entebbe. 47 Jewish and Israeli hostages, captured by a germano-Palestinian terrorist commando on board a plane and fact prisoners in Uganda, are delivered by a raid of the Israeli Air force.

1977

November: the Egyptian president Anouar el-Sadate puts an end to 30 years hostilities with Israel and makes a speech with the Knesset in which he just proposes a peace “ and durable ”. In September 1978, the US president Jimmy Carter invites president Sadate and Israeli the Prime Minister Menahem Begin with Camp David to negotiate the peace agreements.

1978

Anouar el-Sadate and Menahem Begin receive the Nobel Prize of peace.

The March 26th 1979, Anouar el-Sadate and Menahem Begin sign the Camp David agreements which envisage the Israeli withdrawal of the Sinai and the recognition of the State of Israel by Egypt. In accordance with the treaty, Israel will withdraw itself from the Sinai in April 1982. Many demonstrations of Moslem extremists in the European capitals against the peace treaty, in particular in Brussels, with for slogans “ Begin, Sadate, assassins ”.

1981

October 6th: Assassination of Egyptian president Anouar El-Sadate by an Arab extremist at the time of a military procession.

1982

From southern Lebanon, hundreds of shell are launched against Israel, on the Galileo. The June 6th 1982, Israel starts the “Opération Peace as a Galileo” and invades the Lebanon until Beirut to push back the forces of PLO to more than 40 km of the Israeli border. The June 20th, the the United States obtain a cease-fire comprising the evacuation of the PLO in Tunisia.

1982

Massacre of Sabred and Chatila during the Guerre of Lebanon.

The War of Lebanon is the theater of one of the darkest episodes of the History of Israel. The massacre perpetrated by Phalangistes Christians on Palestinian civilians in the camps of Sabred and Chatila in a zone of Lebanon controlled by the Israeli Armée will give place to investigations to make the light into these events. There would have been 900 killed Palestinian refugees (3500 according to the Israeli journalist Kapeliouk).

1984

Formation of a government of national union to allow the resolution of the economic crisis and the exit of Lebanon. First rescue operation in mass of the Jews of Ethiopia: Opération Braces.

1985

Raid of Israeli aviation on the general headquarter of the PLO in Tunis.

1987

The Palestinians start the first Intifada or “war of the stones”, in answer to the Israeli Occupation in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. This conflict will end with the Accords of Oslo signed with Washington the September 13rd 1993 by Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat. These agreements envisage the creation of a Palestinian Autorité and a mutual recognition of the PLO and Israel.

From 1987 to our days

1989

November: Fall of the Berlin Wall marking the end of the Eastern bloc, beginning of the Aliyah of mass coming from Soviet Union and of the old communist countries.

1990

Second air operation to save the Jewish Ethiopia: Operation Solomon. August 2nd: the Iraq appendix the Kuwait.

1991

January 15th: Beginning of the First War of the Gulf.

October 30th: Conference of peace, which joins together with Madrid, for the first time, Israel and the leaders of the Arab countries.

December: Mikhail Gorbatchev announces the end of the Soviet Union.

December 16th: resolution 3379 issuing that the Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination is cancelled by resolution 46/86.

1992

Legislative elections in Israel: the Workers party returns to the capacity, directed by Yitzhak Rabin.

1993

September 13rd: signature of the Statement of Principles between Israel and the PLO.

1994

May 4th: Signature of the agreement on Gaza and Jericho by Israel and the PLO.

February 25th: 29 faithful Moslems who request with the Vault Patriarchs in Hebron, are assassinated by Dr. Baroukh Goldstein.

October 26th: peace treaty between Israel and Jordan.

December 12th: Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat receive the Nobel Prize of peace.

1995

November 4th: Assassination of the Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by a Jewish fanatic.

1996

Hezbollah sends shells on Israel from southern Lebanon.

March: The Operation Grapes of anger launched against the Hezbollah with the South-Lebanon.

May 29th: Elections in Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu is elected Prime Minister.

1997

January: the Israeli army leaves the town of Hebron which passes under Palestinian Autorité.

1999

Ehud Barak is elected Prime Minister.

2000

September, beginning of the the Second Intifada or Intifada Al-Aqsa .

November 2000, Ehud Barak approves a plan of construction of a “ barrier intended to prevent the passage of vehicles motorized ” since the North-East of the West Bank until the area of Latrun.

The problem of the Palestinian armed movements: The armed organizations most active are the Hamas, the Hezbollah, the Brigades of Al Aqsa and the Jihad Islamique which are localized in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Some of these organizations consider civilians deaths which result from this as being Martyr S from the Islamic Jihad.

The Hamas created an infrastructure of social security, saving to him thus thousands of supporters. It is a political movement and terrorist, very widespread and very popular, at its head: Ramadan Abdallah Shalakh. Hamas is financially constant by many worldwide organizations, particularly in Europe, as well as countries like Iran and Syria. The Islamic Jihad Palestinian is less popular than Hamas. It is smaller, and does not have social activities with the program and any political aspiration. Islamic Jihad is very active in Jenin, Tulkarem and Nablus (Schrem) in the West Bank. He works in cell and does not have a civil infrastructure.

2002

April 14th: Following the multiplication of the attacks, the government decides to build a barrier anti-terrorist inside the Boundary line, and emitted a directive for “ to immediately begin the construction of a fence in the area of 'Anin… the sector of Tulkarem and the sector of Jerusalem ”.

August 14th: Approval by the Government of the layout of the Wall, remained secret. It will be mainly made up of electronic barriers.

November: primary elections (the members of a party elect their chief) within Likoud and of the workers party, for the elections of January 2003.

2003

January, elections for 16th Knesset. Likoud 37 seats, Members of the Labor Party 19 seats. The first Israeli cosmonaut, Ilan Ramon, dies in the catastrophe of the Colombia space shuttle.

2004/2005

Several modifications of the layout of the wall of protection anti-terrorist, to satisfy with the Palestinian, European requests and of the high Israeli court of justice. November 11th, 2004 death of Yasser Arafat, chief of the PLO (born on August 24th, 1929 in Cairo in Egypt - died on November 11th, 2004 in Clamart in France). An Israeli astronaut joined the space program of NASA, which develops an ambitious program to make land an human being over Mars, with the probability that Israel takes part in the program, according to the ambassador from Israel to Washington.

2005

After the death of Yasser Arafat, peace process by Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas (Abou Mazen) starts again, new president of the Palestinian Authority. This last, elected on a program aiming at the end of violence, establishes a truce with Israel which seems respected by Palestinian terrorist movements, except by Hamas and the Jihad who opposes Abou Mazen within the Palestinian Authority and lasting the elections. Ariel Sharon on its side, works with the decolonization of Gaza but encounters an opposition to the dismantling of the colonies in her own party, forcing it to compose with the Israeli left. The Israeli Colonies in the occupied territories make political stopping with their dismantling and claim a referendum supported by the Israeli line.

March: Israel plans to entrust to Egypt the control of a buffer zone in Gaza. A “ agreement in principle” on the deployment of an Egyptian force of 750 men along the eight kilometers of the buffer zone, known as of the “corridor of Philadelphia”, was concluded with Charm el-Cheikh in Egypt between Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and the Israeli minister from Defense Shaul Mofaz.

December: major dissensions on the policy to be followed with respect to Palestine lead at the beginning of two of the principal politicians of their respective party: Ariel Sharon created a new party and convinces Shimon Peres to join it. The Israeli political game is thus completely modified with three parties: Likoud de Benyamin Netanyahou, the workers party of Amir Peretz and Kadima (" ahead ") of Ariel Sharon. Knesset is dissolved by the Israeli president, and Kadima leaves favorite for the anticipated elections.

2006

Kadima gains legislative elections of March which carries Ehud Olmert to the head of the government. However, the tension with the palestiens continues to be still sharp (rocket fires " Qasam" on the israëliennes cities and reprisals of Tsahal). June 25th, the corporal Gilad Shalit is removed by 3 Palestinian activists groups (Popular resistance committees, the Army of Islam and the armed wing of the Hamas terrorist organization) at the time of a joint attack against a military station of Tsahal in Israeli territory. In response, the Israeli cabinet starts the Opération Rain of summer .

On Wednesday, July 12, 8 soldiers of Tsahal are killed and 2 captured by Hezbollah close to the israélo-Lebanese border. The sources divergent as for the circumstances and at the side of the border or took place the fixing. Tsahal counteracted with the operation " Change of direction" (" Changing direction").

The answer of Israel is judged " disproportionnée" by UNO but supported by the United States which estimates as the United Kingdom that Israel has the " right to the autodéfense".

Observers wonder then if the Iran does not try to take the place of the Syria in Lebanon and if it did not use Hezbollah to divert the attention of its nuclear activities discussed at the time of the recent top of G-8 with Saint-Pétersbourg.

Whereas Hezbollah intensifies its Katiouchas rocket fires on the North of Israel, the countries of G8 require:

the return of the two Israeli hostages, with or without prisoner exchange;

total cease-fire;

deployment of the Lebanese army in all South-Lebanon;

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