History

Israel joins the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Benjamin Netanyahu was 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.

Shimon Peres was elected President by the Knesset.
Israel declares Gaza "hostile territory" following Hamas violent takeover of Gaza Strip.

After Prime Minister Sharon suffers a stroke, Ehud Olmert becomes acting prime minister.
Following elections on 28 March, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert formed a new government led by the Kadima Party.
Israel carried out military operations against Palestinian terrorists in Gaza after the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier.
The Second War in Lebanon, during which Israel carried out military operations against Hizbullah terrorism from southern Lebanon, following missile attacks and the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers.

Israel carries out the Disengagement Plan, ending Israel's presence in the Gaza Strip. 

The right-of-center coalition government was formed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Israel accepts the Roadmap.

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 on 28 January 2003.

Ariel Sharon (Likud) was elected Prime Minister and formed a broad-based unity government.

The Sharm-el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee report (Mitchell Report) was issued.

Palestinian-Israeli Security Implementation Work Plan (Tenet ceasefire plan) proposed.

Rechavam Ze'evy, Minister of Tourism, was assassinated by Palestinian terrorists.

Visit of Pope Paul II.

Israel withdraws from the Security Zone in southern Lebanon.

Israel admitted to the UN Western European and Others Group.

Renewed violence (Second Intifada). Prime Minister Barak resigns.

Ehud Barak (left-wing One Israel party) elected prime minister; forms coalition government.

Israel and the PLO sign the Sharm-el-Sheikh Memorandum.

Israel celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Israel and the PLO signed the Wye River Memorandum to facilitate the implementation of the Interim Agreement.

Hebron Protocol signed by Israel and the PA.

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 the Knesset elections.

Binyamin Netanyahu was elected prime minister.

Omani trade representation office opened in Tel Aviv.

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.

Implementation of Palestinian self-government in the Gaza 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.

Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements for the Palestinians, signed by Israel and PLO, as representative of the Palestinian people (Oslo Accords).

Diplomatic relations were established with China and India.

Yitzhak Rabin of the Labor Party heads the new government.

Iraqi Scud missiles attacked Israel during the Gulf War.

Middle East peace conference convened in Madrid;

Operation Solomon, airlift of Jews from Ethiopia.

Four-point peace initiative proposed by Israel.

Start of mass immigration of Jews from the former Soviet Union.

Likud government wins elections

Widespread violence (Intifada) starts in Israeli-administered areas.

Free Trade Agreement signed with the United States.

National unity government (Likud and Labor) formed after elections.

Operation Moses, immigration of Jews from Ethiopia.

Israel's three-stage withdrawal from Sinai Peninsula completed.

Operation Peace for Galilee removes  Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) terrorists from Lebanon.

Israel Air Force destroys Iraqi nuclear reactor just before it is to become operative.

Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty signed.

Prime Minister Menachem Begin and President Anwar Sadat awarded Nobel Peace Prize.

Camp David Accords include framework for comprehensive peace in the Middle East and proposal for Palestinian self-government.

Likud formed government after the Knesset elections, the end of 30 years of labor rule.

Visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem.

Israel becomes an associate member of the European Common Market.

Yom Kippur War

Egypt's War of Attrition against Israel

Six-Day War: Jerusalem reunited.

National Water Carrier completed, bringing water from Lake Kinneret in the north to the semi-arid south.

Adolf Eichmann was tried and executed in Israel for his part in the Holocaust.

Sinai Campaign

Mass immigration from Europe and Arab countries.

Armistice agreements were signed with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Jerusalem was divided under Israeli and Jordanian rule.
First, the Knesset (parliament) was elected.
Israel admitted to the United Nations as the 59th member.

End of British Mandate (14 May)
State of Israel proclaimed (14 May).
Israel was invaded by five Arab states (15 May).
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was established.
War of Independence (May 1948-July 1949).

UN proposes the establishment of Arab and Jewish states in the Land.

Jewish Brigade formed as part of British forces.

Lehi underground movement formed; Palmach, the strike force of Haganah, set up.

World War II; Holocaust in Europe

Jewish immigration severely limited by British White Paper

Anti-Jewish riots instigated by Arab terrorists.

Fifth Aliya, mainly from Germany.

Etzel, The Jewish underground organization, was founded.

Hebron Jews were massacred by Arab terrorists.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem opened on Mount Scopus.

Fourth Aliya, mainly from Poland.

Technion, first institute of technology, founded in Haifa.

Britain granted a Mandate for Palestine (Land of Israel) by the League of Nations; Transjordan set up three-fourths of the area, leaving one-fourth of the Jewish national home.

Jewish Agency is representing the Jewish community vis-a-vis the mandate authorities set up.

First moshav (cooperative village), Nahalal, founded.

Histadrut (General Federation of Labor) and Haganah (Jewish defense organization) were founded. Vaad Leumi (National Council) set up by Jewish community (Yishuv) to conduct its affairs.

Third Aliya, mainly from Russia

400 years of Ottoman rule ended by British conquest;

British Foreign Minister Balfour supports establishing a "Jewish national home in Palestine."

First kibbutz, Degania, and first modern all-Jewish city, Tel Aviv, founded.

Second Aliya, mainly from Russia and Poland.

Theodor Herzl convened the first Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland; the Zionist Organization was founded.

First Aliya (large-scale immigration), mainly from Russia.

First neighborhood built outside walls of Jerusalem's Old City

Code of Jewish law (Shulhan Arukh) published.

Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem

Caliph Abd el-Malik built the Dome of the Rock on the site of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.

Persian invasion

Commentary on the Mishna (Jerusalem Talmud) completed.

Codification of Jewish oral law (Mishna) completed.

Bar Kokhba uprising against Rome

Last stand of Jews at Masada.

Destruction of Jerusalem and Second Temple.

Jewish revolt against the Romans

Ministry of Jesus of Nazareth

Herod, Roman vassal king, rules the Land of Israel;The temple in Jerusalem was refurbished

Jerusalem captured by Roman general, Pompey.

Jewish independence under the Hasmonean monarchy.

Jewish autonomy under Hasmoneans

Maccabean (Hasmonean) revolt against restrictions on the practice of Judaism and the desecration of the Temple

Land conquered by Alexander the Great; Hellenistic rule.

Many Jews return from Babylonia; Temple rebuilt.

Judah conquered by Babylonia; Jerusalem and First Temple destroyed; most Jews exiled.

Assyrians crushed Israel; 10 tribes were exiled (Ten Lost Tribes).

Divided kingdom: Judah and Israel

First Temple, the national and spiritual center of the Jewish people, built in Jerusalem by King Solomon.

Jerusalem made capital of David's kingdom.

Jewish monarchy established; Saul, first king.

Exodus from Egypt: Moses leads Israelites from Egypt, followed by 40 years of wandering in the desert.

Torah, including the Ten Commandments, was received at Mount Sinai. Israelites settle in the Land of Israel

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the patriarchs of the Jewish people and bearers of a belief in one God—settled in the Land of Israel.

Famine forces Israelites to migrate to Egypt.