Israel Celebrates 65th Independece Day -May 14,1948 - May 14,2013

David Ben Gurion, who was to become Israel's first Prime Minister, reads the Declaration of Independence on May 14,1948

 David Ben-Gurion announced to the world that the state of Israel would come into existence at midnight after the termination of the British mandate of Palestine, and following the 1947 UN Vote on Partition.

 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ISRAEL

 

In July 1922, the League of Nations entrusted Britain with the Mandate for Palestine. Recognising 'the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine', Britain was called upon to facilitate the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine-Eretz Israel (Land of Israel).

The British Mandate authorities granted the Jewish and Arab communities the right to run their internal affairs.

After the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution to partition Palestine on November 29, 1947, Britain announced the termination of its Mandate over Palestine, to take effect on May 15, 1948. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed

 

1949: Chaim Weizmann becomes first president of the state of Israel.

1950: The Law of Return was passed allowing any Jew to settle in Israel.

1967: During the Six-Day War, Israel attacks Egypt. Israel occupies the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai peninsula and Syria's Golan Heights, and extends its control to all of Jerusalem.

1973: On October 6, during a Jewish holy day, Egypt attacks territory occupied by Israel. The conflict is known as the Yom Kippur War.

1978: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin sign the U.S.-sponsored Camp David Accords. The countries sign a peace treaty on March 26, 1979.

1982: Israel invades Lebanon to drive out Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) fighters who are attacking northern Israel.

1984: Operation Moses sees immigration of Jews from Ethiopia.

1987: A Palestinian uprising against Israel starts in the West Bank and Gaza.

1992: New government headed by Yitzhak Rabin.

1993: The PLO and Israel agree to recognise each other's existence. The treaty is known as the Oslo Accords.

1994: Jordan and Israel sign a peace treaty.

1995: Rabin is assassinated at peace rally and Shimon Peres becomes prime minister.

2000: In September, Palestinians initiated riots after Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount.

2008: The Palestinians and Israelis continue to trade attacks. The U.S. tries to restart the peace process.

2009: Benjamin Netanyahu becomes Prime Minister.

2010: In December, a forest fire rages for four days in northern Israel. It is the biggest and deadliest in Israel’s history.