The following history timeline of the State of Israel is continued from our previous edition.

October 6 – 24, 1973

The Yom Kippur War. Syria launches a surprise attack against Israel and invades the Golan Heights at the same time as Egypt attacks Israeli forces in the Sinai. They are joined by forces from Morocco, Iraq, and Jordan. Syria attacks civilians and farming villages. Israeli forces recover from initial disarray, and soon force out the invading Arab armies. Henry Kissinger helps negotiate a cease fire agreement. Israel unilaterally withdraws from Egyptian territory near Cairo and from Syrian territory. The Arab nations refuse to recognize the State of Israel.

September 18, 1978

At Camp David, near Washington D.C., Israel and Egypt sign a comprehensive peace treaty, The Camp David Accord includes the withdrawal of Israel from the Sinai. Israel losses energy independence by giving the oil fields in the Sinai to Egypt.

1979 - 1983

Operation Elijah: Rescue of Ethiopian Jewry.

1981

Heavily armed forces of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) occupy and control large areas of Southern Lebanon. Terrorism against Israel increases. The PLO attacks Israel with rockets and artillery, and kills many thousands of Lebanese citizens. Due to continued civil war since 1975, Lebanon has no effective central government, and is powerless to stop the PLO. The UN refuses to condemn or stop the PLO.

June – December 1982

The Lebanon War. Israel invades Southern Lebanon, to drive out the PLO and stop bombing and infiltration of Israel’s northern towns. Within six months after the war begins, Israel withdraws from Lebanon, but leaves troops behind in a ten mile wide security zone along the Israeli-Lebanese border. With their allies, the South Lebanon Army, Israel hopes to prevent future assaults.

1984

Operation Moses: Rescue of more Ethiopian Jewry.

1985

Operation Joshua: Further rescue of Ethiopian Jewry.

1987

Palestinian Arabs begin the Intifada (uprising) in Biblical Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Palestinian Arabs demand statehood.while continuing to vow they will “throw the Jews in to the Sea.”

1990

The Soviet Union finally opens its doors to the three million Soviet Jews who had been held as virtual prisoners. Hundreds of thousands of Soviet Jews choose to leave the Soviet Union and move to Israel.

1990-91

Iraq invades Kuwait, triggering a war between Iraq and Allied United Nations forces. Israel is hit by 30 Scud missiles from Iraq. Every Israeli is issued a gas mask fearing missles tipped with chemical warheads. Israel gives in to U.S. pressure not to unleash military response to Iraq responding to U.S. fear that it would jeapordize the participation of Saudi, Syrian, Egyptian and other Arab forces in the allied coalition.

1991

Operation Solomon: Rescue of the remainder of Ethiopian Jewry in a stunning twenty four hour airlift.

October 30, 1991

The Madrid Peace Conference opens in Spain, sponsored by the United States and the Soviet Union.

Sept. 13, 1993

Israel and PLO sign “peace” treaty. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin at the White House. Israel grants the Palestinians limited but increasing political autonomy, paving the way for continuous “peace” talks.

Oct. 26, 1994

Israel and Jordan sign a peace treaty.

Dec. 10, 1994

Arafat, Rabin and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres share Nobel Peace Prize.

November 4th, 1995

Israeli Prime Minister Yitchak Rabin is assassinated. Shimon Peres (Labor) takes over as Prime Minister. Both Rabin and Peres stop public building in Judea and Samaria.

1996

Shimon Peres loses election to Benyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu (Likud party). Less than 1% of the popular vote determines the election.

1999

Ehud Barak defeats Benyamin Netanyahu in National Elections. Economic stagnation & high unemployment leads to Barak’s victory. Both Barak’s and Netanyahus party’s lose large number of seats in the Israeli parliament (Knesset) to smaller parties. Shas, becomes third largest party in Parliament with 17 seats. There are more Religious parliament members than ever before. The government is dependent on Rightist parties in order to form a coalition.

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