The dream…

• In 1896, Herzl published Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State), offering his vision of a future state; the following year 1897 he presided over the first World Zionist Congress

Independence - May 14, 1948

On May 14, 1948, on the day in which the British Mandate over a Palestine expiredthe Jewish People's Council gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum, and approved the following proclamation, declaring the establishment of the State of Israel. The new state was recognized that night by the United States and three days later by the USSR.

Some more events of 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).

1949Armistice 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.

1967-Six-Day War; Jerusalem reunited.

1973- Yom Kippur War

1979- Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty signed.

Prime Minister Menachem Begin and President Anwar Sadat awarded

Nobel Peace Prize.

• 1982Israel's three-stage withdrawal from Sinai Peninsula completed.

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

1987 Widespread violence 1987 Widespread violence (Intifada) starts in Israeli-(Intifada) starts in Israeli-

administered areas.administered areas.

1991- Israel attacked by Iraqi Scud missiles during Gulf war.

1994 - Rabin, Peres, Arafat awarded Nobel Peace Prize.

For 1993Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government

Arrangements for the Palestinians signed by Israel and PLO

1995- 1995- Prime Minister Rabin assassinaPrime Minister Rabin assassinatedted

at peace rally. at peace rally.

2000- Israel withdraws from the Security Zone

in southern Lebanon.

• Renewed violence (Second Intifada)

2001- Rechavam Ze'evy, Minister of Tourism, assassinated by

Palestinian terrorists

• 2002Israel 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.

2005- Israel carries out the 2005- Israel carries out the Disengagement Plan, ending Israel's Disengagement Plan, ending Israel's

presence in the Gaza Strip.  presence in the Gaza Strip. 

2006• Israel carried out military operations

against Palestinian terrorists in Gaza after kidnapping of Israeli soldier (Gilad Shalit 25/06/06) .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 (Regev & Goldvasser 12/7/06).

2008- 2008- Operation Cast Lead Operation Cast Lead in Gaza stripin Gaza strip