IsraelVotes 2006 | Israeli History in Brief

Israeli History in Brief

This timeline highlights significant dates in Israel's 57 year history.

January 4-5, 2006 – PM Sharon suffers a major stroke; Ehud Olmert becomes assumes the roles of Acting Prime Minister and leader of Kadima.
December 22, 2005 - Five IDF soldiers injured in Kassam attack on military base south of Ashkelon
December 19, 2005 - Binyamin Netanyahu wins race for Likud leader
December 18, 2005 - PM Sharon suffers light strike and is hospitalized for two days
November 22, 2005 - PM Sharon leaves the Likud to from Kadima, a new centrist party
November 21, 2005 - New Labor leader, Amir Peretz, pulls out of government forcing new elections
October 2005 - present - Despite Disengagement, terrorist groups continue to shoot Kassam rockets from Gaza into Israel
September 13, 2005 - Israel completes the Disengagement
August 2005 - Israel begins the historic pullout from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
February 20, 2005 - Government approves the new, Supreme Court mandated, route of the Security Fence
February 8, 2005 - The Disengagement is endorsed by Egypt, Jordan & the PA at a summit with Israel
October 25, 2004 - Knesset approves the Disengagement Plan
June 30, 2004 - Supreme Court held that the Security Fence serves an important function in national security, but mandates some changes in the route.
December 18, 2003 - PM Sharon announces his plan for withdrawing from the Gaza Strip & Northern Samaria
August 2003 - Government approves the 68km route of the Jerusalem portion of the Security Fence
April 30, 2003 - The Roadmap plan for peace is announced (sponsored by the UN, the EU, Russia and the US)
January 28, 2003 - PM Ariel Sharon's Likud party wins election in a landslide
August 2002 - Government approves northern route of Security Fence
January 7, 2002 - Party commercial broadcasts begin on Israel's state run TV station
December 11, 2002 - Finalized list of parties running for election confirmed
November 28, 2002 - Ariel Sharon defeats Benjamin Netanyahu in Likud primaries on day marked by terrorist attacks against Israelis in Kenya and at Likud polling station in Beit Shean
November 19, 2002 - Amram Mitzna beats Benjamin Ben-Eliezer in Labor Party primaries and leads Labor against Likud in elections
November 5, 2002 - Ariel Sharon calls for new elections, date subsequently set for January 28, 2003
October 2002 - Labor quits national unity government
June 24, 2002 - President George Bush calls for democratic reforms in the Palestinian Authority and new Palestinian leadership not compromised by terror
March 29, 2002 - Israel launches Operation Defensive Shield in response to series of brutal suicide bombings including one at a Passover Seder in Netanya
February 6, 2001 - Ariel Sharon elected prime minister, creates national unity government
July 23, 2001 - Government approves the building of the Security Fence
September 29, 2000 - Second intifada launched and waves of suicide bombings and armed attacks begin
July 11, 2000 - Camp David Summit between Barak and Arafat begins. It ends in failure two weeks later
May 24, 2000 - Israel withdraws from Lebanon. UN affirms that Israel is now in compliance with relevant UN resolutions regarding Lebanon
May 17, 1999 - Ehud Barak elected prime minister
January 1997 - Israel deploys from much of Hebron
May 29, 1996 - Benjamin Netanyahu elected prime minister
November 1995 - Israel begins deployment from centers of Palestinian populations
November 4, 1995 - Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin assassinated at rally designed to show support for peace in the aftermath of terror attacks. Shimon Peres takes over as prime minister
October 26, 1994 - Israel and Jordan sign peace agreement
1994- 1996 - Palestinian terrorists implement campaign of suicide bombers in Israel
May 1994 - Israelis withdraw from Jericho and most of Gaza Strip
September 13, 1993 - Signing of Declaration of Principles on White House Lawn
September 9, 1993 - Israel - PLO mutual recognition agreement
June 1992 - Labor leader Yitzhak Rabin leads party to victory in general election
October 30, 1991 - The Madrid Peace Conference convenes. For first time in history Arab states (aside from Egypt) agree to direct, bilateral negotiations with Israel
January 16, 1991 - The Gulf War begins. Bowing to American pressure, Israel suffers 39 Scud missile attacks without responding
December 8, 1986 - The intifada begins
June 1982 - Operation "Peace for Galilee" begins. Ensuing Lebanon war keeps Israeli presence in the country for 18 years
March 26, 1979 - Egypt and Israel sign formal peace treaty
November 19, 1977 - Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visits Israel and addresses the Knesset in Jerusalem
May 1977 - Menachem Begin becomes prime minister of Israel - the first Likud victory in national elections
October 6, 1973 - Egypt and Syria launch a joint attack against Israel on Yom Kippur. The ensuing Yom Kippur war took a heavy casualty toll on Israel and shook Israeli confidence in its leadership
Early 1970's - War of Attrition, Egyptian shelling of Israeli positions on the Suez Canal
September 1967 - The "Three No's" of the Khartoum Conference in which a defeated Nasser set forth the Arab states' political path for the foreseeable future by calling for "No peace with Israel, No negotiations with Israel, No recognition of Israel."
June 5, 1967 - Six-Day War begins. Israel, facing imminent attack from Egypt, Syria and Jordan, launches pre-emptive strike crippling Egypt's army and capturing the entire Sinai Peninsula. Syria loses the Golan Heights and Jordan Jerusalem and the western bank of the Hashemite Kingdom (the West Bank).
1964 - The Palestine Liberation Organization is founded
October 1956 - Suez Campaign. Israel, together with Britain and France fight Egypt in bid to safeguard free shipping after Nasser "nationalizes" the Suez Canal
1950's - Mass immigration to Israel by Jews of Arab lands and remnants of European Jewry
May 15, 1948 - January 1949 - Israeli War of Independence
May 14, 1948 - State of Israel declared
November 29, 1947 - UN Partition Plan approved, calls for Jewish and Arab states