History of Israel in Timeline
Israel is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia, bordered by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. It has a Mediterranean coastline to the west and reaches the Red Sea in the south. Jerusalem is the proclaimed capital and government seat, while Tel Aviv is the largest urban area and economic center. The Dead Sea, Earth's lowest point, lies to its east.
1904: Second Aliyah
The Second Aliyah began in 1904 after the Kishinev pogrom, leading to approximately 40,000 Jews settling in Palestine, though nearly half eventually left.
1907: Formation of Bar-Giora
In 1907, Jewish armed militias emerged, with the first being Bar-Giora.
1909: Establishment of Tel Aviv
In 1909, Tel Aviv was established as the first planned Jewish town.
1914: Jewish Emigration
Between 1882 and 1914, antisemitism, pogroms, and official policies in tsarist Russia led to the emigration of three million Jews, only 1% of whom went to Palestine.
1914: End of the Second Aliyah
The Second Aliyah ended in 1914. This wave of migration included Zionist socialist groups who established the kibbutz movement, based on a Jewish economy using only Jewish labor.
1917: Balfour Declaration
In 1917, the Balfour Declaration was secured by Chaim Weizmann's efforts, stating Britain's support for the creation of a Jewish 'national home' in Palestine.
1918: Habima Theatre founding
Founded in 1918, Habima Theatre in Tel Aviv is Israel's oldest repertory theatre company and national theatre.
1918: Jewish Legion assists British conquest
In 1918, the Jewish Legion, primarily Zionist volunteers, assisted in the British conquest of Palestine.
1919: Third Aliyah
The Third Aliyah took place from 1919 to 1923, bringing an additional 100,000 Jews to Palestine.
1920: Division of Territory
In 1920, the territory was divided between Britain and France under the mandate system, and the British-administered area (including modern Israel) was named Mandatory Palestine. The 1920 Palestine riots also took place.
1920: British Mandate
Under the British Mandate, from 1920 to 1948, the entire region was known as Palestine.
1922: League of Nations Grants Mandate
In 1922, the League of Nations granted Britain the Mandate for Palestine, which included the Balfour Declaration and similar provisions regarding the Arab Palestinians.
1923: Third Aliyah
The Third Aliyah lasted from 1919 to 1923, bringing an additional 100,000 Jews to Palestine.
1924: Fourth Aliyah
The Fourth Aliyah took place from 1924 to 1929, bringing an additional 100,000 Jews to Palestine.
1929: Fourth Aliyah
The Fourth Aliyah lasted from 1924 to 1929, bringing an additional 100,000 Jews to Palestine.
1936: Arab revolt
In 1936, the Arab revolt of 1936–39 started as a result of the increasing persecution of Jews and the rise of Nazism in Europe, leading to the Fifth Aliyah.
1939: White Paper
In 1939, the British introduced restrictions on Jewish immigration to Palestine with the White Paper of 1939.
1942: Highest Temperature Recorded
The highest temperature of 54 °C (129 °F) was recorded in 1942 in the Tirat Zvi kibbutz.
1944: Jewish Insurgency
From 1944, the UK faced a Jewish insurgency over immigration restrictions, which intensified following the end of the war, and continued conflict with the Arab community over limit levels.
July 1946: Irgun bombs British headquarters
On July 22, 1946, Irgun bombed the British administrative headquarters for Palestine, killing 91 people in response to Operation Agatha.
February 1947: British Refer Palestine Issue to UN
In February 1947, the British referred the Palestine issue to the newly formed United Nations after failing to mediate between Jewish and Arab representatives.
May 1947: UN General Assembly Resolves to Create Special Committee
On May 15, 1947, the UN General Assembly resolved that a Special Committee be created "to prepare ... a report on the question of Palestine".
July 1947: Peak of Jewish insurgency
In July 1947, the Jewish insurgency peaked, culminating in the Sergeants affair, where the Irgun took two British sergeants hostage and killed them after executions of Irgun operatives were carried out.
September 1947: British Cabinet Decides to Evacuate Palestine
In September 1947, the British cabinet decided to evacuate Palestine as the Mandate was no longer tenable.
November 1947: UN Adopts Resolution 181 (II)
On November 29, 1947, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 181 (II) which was essentially the partition plan proposed in the report of September 3. The Jewish Agency accepted the plan.
December 1947: Arab Higher Committee Proclaims Strike
On December 1, 1947, the Arab Higher Committee proclaimed a three-day strike, and riots broke out in Jerusalem as the Arab League and Arab Higher Committee of Palestine rejected the UN partition plan.
1947: Jewish insurgency continues
In 1947, the Jewish insurgency continued despite efforts by the British military and Palestine Police Force to suppress it.
1947: UN Partition Plan
In 1947, the United Nations (UN) Partition Plan was created which caused the Arab-Jewish tensions to escalate into a civil war.
April 1948: Haganah Moves onto the Offensive
In April 1948, the Haganah moved onto the offensive against Arab militias and gangs attacking Jewish areas.
May 1948: End of British Mandate
Colonial Secretary Arthur Creech Jones announced that the British Mandate would end on May 15, 1948, at which point the British would evacuate.
May 1948: Israel Declares Independence
On May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence as the British Mandate ended, which was followed by an invasion by Arab states.
May 1948: Declaration of the Establishment of a Jewish State
On May 14, 1948, the day before the expiration of the British Mandate, David Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel, leading to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
1948: Forest area in Israel
In 1948, forests accounted for 2% of the area in Israel.
1948: State of war with Syria
Israel remains formally in a state of war with Syria, dating back uninterrupted to 1948.
1948: Opposition to Yiddish
Prior to 1948, opposition to Yiddish was common among supporters of the Zionist movement who sought to promote Hebrew's revival as a unifying national language. In 1948, these sentiments were reflected in the early policies of the Israeli government, which largely banned Yiddish theatre and publications.
1948: Retention of Israel's population
Retention of Israel's population since 1948 is about even or greater, when compared to other countries with mass immigration.
1948: Relocation of Jewish refugees to Israel begins
Starting in 1948, approximately 1,150,000 Jewish refugees relocated to Israel over the next two decades.
1948: Foundation of the IDF
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) was founded during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War by consolidating paramilitary organisations, chiefly the Haganah.
1948: Establishment of the State of Israel
Upon establishment in 1948, the country formally adopted the name State of Israel, after considering and rejecting other proposed names.
May 1949: Israel admitted as a member of the UN
In May 1949, Israel was admitted as a member of the UN by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 273.
1949: Demarcation Lines of the Armistice Agreements
According to the demarcation lines of the 1949 Armistice Agreements, the sovereign territory of Israel is approximately 20,770 square kilometers.
1949: Establishment of Green Line
In the aftermath of the Six-Day War, the 1949 Green Line became the administrative boundary between Israel and the occupied territories.
1949: Turkey recognition of Israel
Turkey has cooperated with Israel since its recognition of Israel in 1949.
1950: Law of Return
In 1950, Israel passed the Law of Return, granting Jews the unrestricted right to immigrate to Israel and obtain Israeli citizenship.
1952: Over 200,000 people living in transit camps
By 1952, over 200,000 people were living in temporary camps known as ma'abarot in Israel.
1953: State Education Law
The State Education Law was established in Israel in 1953, establishing five types of schools: state secular, state religious, ultra orthodox, communal settlement schools, and Arab schools.
1955: Israel began its foreign aid programme
In 1955 Israel began its foreign aid programme in Burma and then shifted to Africa.
1956: Israel joins UK and France in Suez Crisis
In 1956, Israel joined a secret alliance with the UK and France and overran the Sinai Peninsula during the Suez Crisis after the continued blockade of the Suez Canal and Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, together with increasing fedayeen attacks against Israel's southern population and recent Arab threatening statements. They were later pressured to withdraw by the UN.
1957: Establishment of Mashav
Israel's humanitarian efforts officially began in 1957 with the establishment of Mashav, the Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation.
1957: UN peacekeepers stationed in the Sinai Peninsula
Since 1957, UN peacekeepers were stationed in the Sinai Peninsula until they were expelled by Egypt in May 1967.
1958: Israeli population rises to two million
By 1958, the population of Israel had risen to two million due to the influx of Holocaust survivors and Jews from Arab and Muslim countries.
1962: Period beginning of Foreign Assistance Act
The United States has provided military assistance and grants to Israel since 1967, under the Foreign Assistance Act, period beginning 1962.
1963: Diplomatic standoff with the United States
In 1963, Israel was engaged in a diplomatic standoff with the United States in relation to the Israeli nuclear programme.
1964: Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) established
In 1964, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) was established, committing itself to "armed struggle as the only way to liberate the homeland".
1964: Arab countries attempt to divert waters of the Jordan River
Since 1964 Arab countries, concerned over Israeli plans to divert waters of the Jordan River into the coastal plain, had been trying to divert the headwaters to deprive Israel of water resources, provoking tensions between Israel on the one hand, and Syria and Lebanon on the other.
1966: Battles between Israeli and Arab forces
By 1966, Israeli-Arab relations had deteriorated to the point of battles taking place between Israeli and Arab forces.
1966: Nobel Prize in Literature
In 1966, Shmuel Yosef Agnon shared the Nobel Prize in Literature with German Jewish author Nelly Sachs.
May 1967: Egypt masses its army near the border with Israel
In May 1967, Egypt massed its army near the border with Israel, expelled UN peacekeepers stationed in the Sinai Peninsula since 1957, and blocked Israel's access to the Red Sea.
1967: Six-Day War
After the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza and Egyptian Sinai, and annexed East Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan Heights.
1967: Soviet Union broke diplomatic relations
Diplomatic relations between Israel and the Soviet Union were broken in 1967 following the Six-Day War.
1967: War of Attrition begins
Following the 1967 war and the "Three Nos" resolution of the Arab League, Israel faced attacks from the Egyptians in the Sinai Peninsula during the 1967–1970 War of Attrition.
1967: Relations soured after the war
Following the 1967 war relations soured, and Israel's foreign aid programme subsequently shifted its focus to Latin America.
1967: Occupation of West Bank
From their occupation in 1967, Palestinians living in these territories were under Israeli military administration.
1967: Six-Day War and Territory Capture
In 1967, Israel captured and occupied the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights as a result of the Six-Day War.
1967: Reaffirmation of 1967 annexation of Jerusalem
The 1980 Jerusalem Law was believed by some to reaffirm Israel's 1967 annexation of Jerusalem by government decree and reignited international controversy over the status of the city.
1968: Summer Paralympics host
The 1968 Summer Paralympics were hosted by Israel.
1970: End of mass Jewish Relocation to Israel
Between 1948 and 1970, approximately 1,150,000 Jewish refugees relocated to Israel.
1970: War of Attrition ends
Following the 1967 war, Israel faced attacks from the Egyptians in the Sinai Peninsula during the 1967–1970 War of Attrition.
1970: FIFA World Cup qualification
In 1970 the Israel national football team qualified for the FIFA World Cup, the only time it participated.
1972: Massacre of Israeli athletes at the Summer Olympics in Munich
In 1972, Palestinian groups launched attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets around the world, including a massacre of Israeli athletes at the Summer Olympics in Munich.
October 1973: Yom Kippur War begins
On 6 October 1973, the Egyptian and Syrian armies launched a surprise attack against Israeli forces in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights, opening the Yom Kippur War.
1973: Eurovision Song Contest participation
Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest nearly every year since 1973, winning it four times and hosting three times.
1973: Yom Kippur War
Since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the Gaza-Israel conflict of 2023 has been the most significant military engagement in the region.
1974: United States contribution of military aid
Since 1974, the United States has been a particularly notable contributor of military aid to Israel.
1974: Last participation in Asian Games
The 1974 Asian Games, held in Tehran, were the last Asian Games in which Israel participated, due to other Arab countries refusing to compete with Israel.
1975: Peak military expenditure
Since Israel's establishment, military expenditure constituted a significant portion of the country's gross domestic product, with a peak of 30.3% of GDP in 1975.
June 1976: Air France Flight 139 Hijacking
On 27 June 1976, Air France Flight 139 was hijacked in flight from Israel to France by Palestinian guerrillas; Israeli commandos rescued 102 of 106 Israeli hostages days later.
1977: Likud party takes control from the Labor Party
The 1977 Knesset elections marked a major turning point in Israeli political history as Menachem Begin's Likud party took control from the Labor Party. Later that year, Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat made a trip to Israel and spoke before the Knesset in what was the first recognition of Israel by an Arab head of state.
March 1978: Coastal Road massacre and invasion of Lebanon
On 11 March 1978, a PLO guerilla raid from Lebanon led to the Coastal Road massacre. Israel responded by launching an invasion of southern Lebanon to destroy PLO bases.
1978: Camp David Accords
In 1978, Sadat and Begin signed the Camp David Accords.
1978: Exclusion from Asian Games
Israel was excluded from the 1978 Asian Games and since then has not competed in Asian sport events.
1979: Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty
In 1979, Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt as part of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty.
1979: Peace Treaty with Egypt
In 1979, a peace treaty was signed with Egypt, leading to the return of the Sinai in 1982.
1980: Jerusalem Law passed
The 1980 Jerusalem Law was believed by some to reaffirm Israel's 1967 annexation of Jerusalem by government decree and reignited international controversy over the status of the city.
1981: Israel annexes the Golan Heights
In 1981 Israel effectively annexed the Golan Heights. The international community largely rejected these moves.
1982: Occupation of Southern Lebanon
Between 1982 and 2000, Israel occupied part of southern Lebanon, in what was known as the Security Belt.
1982: Israel invades Lebanon
Following a series of PLO attacks in 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon to destroy the PLO bases.
1982: Sinai Returned to Egypt
In 1982, as part of the 1979 peace treaty, the Sinai was returned to Egypt.
1985: Israel sent delegations of search and rescue unit
Between 1985 and 2015, Israel sent 24 delegations of their search and rescue unit the Home Front Command to 22 countries.
1986: Israel withdraws from most of Lebanon
Israel withdrew from most of Lebanon in 1986 but continued to occupy a borderland buffer zone in southern Lebanon until 2000, from where Israeli forces engaged in conflict with Hezbollah.
1987: First Intifada begins
In 1987, The First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule, broke out, with waves of uncoordinated demonstrations and violence in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
1987: Red Sea Jazz Festival
Since 1987, Eilat has hosted its own international music festival, the Red Sea Jazz Festival, every summer.
1988: First Shavit launch
In 1988, Shavit was first launched, making Israel the eighth nation to have a space launch capability.
1990: Immigration from the post-Soviet states increases
Between 1990 and 1994, immigration from the post-Soviet states increased Israel's population by twelve per cent.
1990: Mass immigration from Soviet Union
Between 1990 and 2004, over one million Russian-speaking immigrants arrived in Israel due to mass immigration from the former Soviet Union. Because of this, Russian became a widely spoken language.
1990: Train passengers per year
In 1990, the number of train passengers per year was 2.5 million in Israel.
1991: PLO supports Saddam Hussein during Gulf War
During the 1991 Gulf War, the PLO supported Saddam Hussein and Iraqi missile attacks against Israel. Despite public outrage, Israel heeded American calls to refrain from hitting back.
1991: Diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union were renewed
In 1991, diplomatic relations between Israel and the Soviet Union were renewed.
1991: All homes in Israel are required to have a security room
Since the Gulf War in 1991, all homes in Israel are required to have a reinforced security room, Merkhav Mugan, impermeable to chemical and biological substances.
1991: Turkey and Israel established full diplomatic relations
Turkey and Israel established full diplomatic relations in 1991.
1992: India established full diplomatic ties with Israel
In 1992, India established full diplomatic ties with Israel, fostering a strong partnership since then.
1992: Yitzhak Rabin becomes prime minister
In 1992, Yitzhak Rabin became prime minister following an election in which his party called for compromise with Israel's neighbours.
1992: First Olympic Medal
Since its first win in 1992, Israel has won 20 Olympic medals.
1993: Oslo Accords
In 1993, the Oslo Accords introduced limited Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza.
1993: Report on chemical and biological weapons
Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons and per a 1993 report, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction.
1993: Israel-PLO letters of recognition
Since the Israel-PLO letters of recognition in 1993, most of the Palestinian population and cities have been under the internal jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority.
1994: End of increased immigration from the post-Soviet states
Between 1990 and 1994, immigration from the post-Soviet states increased Israel's population by twelve per cent.
1994: UEFA admission
In 1994, UEFA agreed to admit Israel, and its football teams now compete in Europe.
1994: Peace Treaty with Jordan
In 1994, a peace treaty was signed with Jordan.
1994: Israel–Jordan peace treaty signed
In 1994, the Israel–Jordan peace treaty was signed, making Jordan the second Arab country to normalise relations with Israel.
November 1995: Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
In November 1995, Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amir, a far-right Jew who opposed the Accords.
1995: Relations between Greece and Israel have improved
Relations between Greece and Israel have improved since 1995 after decline of Israeli–Turkish relations.
1999: Ehud Barak elected prime minister
Ehud Barak was elected prime minister in 1999. He later withdrew forces from southern Lebanon and conducted negotiations with PNA Chairman Yasser Arafat and U.S. President Bill Clinton at the 2000 Camp David Summit.
2000: Early references to Canaan
Around 2000 BCE, early references to "Canaan" and "Canaanites" appear in ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian texts, indicating that these populations were structured as politically independent city-states.
2000: End of Occupation of Southern Lebanon
Between 1982 and 2000, Israel occupied part of southern Lebanon, in what was known as the Security Belt.
2000: Camp David Summit
In 2000, Ehud Barak conducted negotiations with PNA Chairman Yasser Arafat and U.S. President Bill Clinton at the Camp David Summit. Each side blamed the other for the failure of the talks.
2000: Second Intifada begins
In late 2000, after a controversial visit by Sharon to the Temple Mount, the Second Intifada began. Between 2000 and 2008, 1,063 Israelis, 5,517 Palestinians and 64 foreign citizens were killed.
2000: Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon
Israel withdrew from most of Lebanon in 1986 but continued to occupy a borderland buffer zone in southern Lebanon until 2000, from where Israeli forces engaged in conflict with Hezbollah.
2001: Sharon becomes prime minister
Sharon became prime minister in a 2001 election; he carried out his plan to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip and spearheaded the construction of the West Bank barrier, ending the intifada.
2002: Jenin, Jenin Film
Palestinian Israeli filmmakers have made films dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict and status of Palestinians within Israel, such as Mohammad Bakri's 2002 film Jenin, Jenin and The Syrian Bride.
2003: Ilan Ramon's mission
In 2003, Ilan Ramon became Israel's first astronaut, serving on the fatal mission of Space Shuttle Columbia.
2003: Drafting of an Official Constitution
In 2003, the Knesset began drafting an official constitution based on the Basic Laws of Israel.
2003: Period ending of being most assisted country
The United States has provided military assistance and grants to Israel since 1967, under the Foreign Assistance Act (period beginning 1962), more than any other country for that period until 2003.
2004: End of mass immigration from Soviet Union
Between 1990 and 2004, over one million Russian-speaking immigrants arrived in Israel due to mass immigration from the former Soviet Union. Because of this, Russian became a widely spoken language.
2004: ICJ advisory opinion on West Bank barrier
In 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion stating that lands captured by Israel in the Six-Day War, including East Jerusalem, are occupied territory. The ICJ also found that the construction of the West Bank barrier within the occupied Palestinian territory violates international law.
2004: Natural Gas Production
Israel began producing natural gas from its own offshore gas fields in 2004.
2004: Gold Medal in windsurfing
Israel won a gold medal in windsurfing at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
2004: Nobel Prize-winning scientists
Since 2004, Israel has produced six Nobel Prize-winning scientists, mostly in chemistry.
2005: Unilateral Disengagement Plan
In 2005, Israel removed its settlers and forces from the Gaza Strip as part of a unilateral disengagement plan.
2005: Evacuation of settlements in the Gaza Strip
In 2005, approximately 7,800 Israelis lived in settlements in the Gaza Strip, known as Gush Katif, until they were evacuated by the government as part of its disengagement plan.
2005: World Team Chess Championship
Israel hosted the World Team Chess Championship in 2005.
October 2006: Israeli forces mostly withdraw from Lebanon
Israeli forces mostly withdrew from Lebanon by October 2006 but continued to occupy the Lebanese portion of Ghajar village.
2007: Building standards and earthquake resistance
As of 2007, many public and residential buildings did not meet new earthquake resistant standards.
2007: Germany paid reparations to Israel
By 2007, Germany had paid 25 billion euros in reparations to Israel and individual Israeli Holocaust survivors.
2007: Hamas Assumes Power in Gaza
Following the 2007 Battle of Gaza, when Hamas assumed power in the Gaza Strip, Israel tightened control of the Gaza crossings.
2007: Israeli Air Force destroys a nuclear reactor in Syria
In 2007 the Israeli Air Force destroyed a nuclear reactor in Syria.
2008: End of the Second Intifada
Between 2000 and 2008, 1,063 Israelis, 5,517 Palestinians and 64 foreign citizens were killed.
2008: Gaza-Israel Conflict
Since 2008, this marked the fifth war of the Gaza-Israel conflict.
2009: Tamar Gas Field Discovery
In 2009, the Tamar gas field was discovered near the coast of Israel.
2010: Joint military exercise between Greece and Israel
In 2010, the Israeli Air Force hosted Greece's Hellenic Air Force in a joint exercise.
2010: Leviathan Gas Field Discovery
In 2010, the Leviathan gas field was discovered in Israel.
2011: Water technology industry value
In 2011, Israel's water technology industry was worth around $2 billion per year with annual exports of products and services in the tens of millions of dollars.
2011: Ketura Sun built
In 2011, Ketura Sun, Israel's first commercial solar field, was built by the Arava Power Company.
June 2012: African migrants in Israel
By June 2012, approximately 60,000 African migrants had entered Israel.
2012: Operation in Gaza Strip
In 2012, Israel commenced an operation in the Gaza Strip, which lasted for eight days, described as a response to Palestinian rocket attacks.
2012: Academic Degrees Per Capita Ranking
In 2012, Israel ranked third in the number of academic degrees per capita, with 20 per cent of the population holding such degrees.
2012: Futron's Space Competitiveness Index
In 2012, Israel was ranked ninth in the world by the Futron's Space Competitiveness Index.
2013: Commercial Production of Natural Gas from the Tamar Field
Commercial production of natural gas from the Tamar field began in 2013, with over 7.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) produced annually.
2013: Better Place Shutdown
In 2013, the electric car company Better Place shut down in Israel.
July 2014: Operation in Gaza Following Rocket Attacks
In July 2014, Israel initiated another operation in Gaza in response to an escalation of rocket attacks by Hamas.
2014: Desalination programmes provided drinking water
By 2014, desalination programmes provided roughly 35% of the drinking water in Israel.
2015: Kosher restaurants proportion
As of 2015, kosher restaurants make up around a quarter of the total restaurants in Israel.
2015: Artificially produced water percentage
As of 2015, over 50 per cent of the water for households, agriculture and industry is artificially produced in Israel.
2015: Israel sent delegations of search and rescue unit
Between 1985 and 2015, Israel sent 24 delegations of their search and rescue unit the Home Front Command to 22 countries.
2015: Settlers in the Knesset
Following the 2015 election, 10 of the 120 members of the Knesset were settlers.
2015: OECD Tertiary Education Ranking
In 2015, Israel ranked third among OECD members for the percentage of 25–64-year-olds that have attained tertiary education with 49% compared with the OECD average of 35%.
2015: Net external debt surplus
In 2015, Israel's net external debt stood at a surplus of $69 billion.
2015: Train passengers per year
In 2015, the number of train passengers per year grew to 53 million in Israel.
2016: Religious identification survey
A 2016 survey by Pew Research indicated that 49% of Israeli Jews self-identify as Hiloni (secular), 29% as Masorti (traditional), 13% as Dati (religious) and 9% as Haredi (ultra-Orthodox).
2016: Proven Reserves of Natural Gas
As of 2016, Israel had 199 billion bcm of proven reserves of natural gas.
2016: Kilometers of paved roads and motor vehicles
As of 2016, Israel has 19,224 kilometres of paved roads and 3 million motor vehicles.
2016: Israelis living in West Bank settlements
In 2016, 399,300 Israelis lived in West Bank settlements, including those that predated the establishment of the State of Israel and which were re-established after the Six-Day War. Additionally there were more than 200,000 Jews living in East Jerusalem and 22,000 in the Golan Heights.
2016: Hebrew Books in National Library
In 2016, 89 percent of the 7,300 books transferred to the National Library of Israel were in Hebrew.
2016: UN Security Council Resolution 2334 on Israeli settlements
In 2016, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 was passed, stating that Israel's settlement activity constitutes a "flagrant violation" of international law. The resolution demands that Israel stop such activity and fulfill its obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
2016: Forest area in Israel
In 2016, forests accounted for 8.5% of the area in Israel.
2016: Average life expectancy
In 2016, the OECD estimated the average life expectancy in Israel at 82.5 years, the 6th-highest in the world.
2016: Growth in tourism
Tourism in Israel experienced a 25 percent growth since 2016.
2016: Memorandum of understanding signed
Under a memorandum of understanding signed in 2016, the U.S. is expected to provide Israel with $3.8 billion per year from 2018 to 2028.
2017: Record Tourists Visits
In 2017, a record 3.6 million tourists visited Israel, yielding a 25 per cent growth since 2016 and contributed NIS 20 billion to the economy.
2017: Poll of Arab citizens of Israel
In a 2017 poll, 40% of Arab citizens of Israel identified as "Arab in Israel" or "Arab citizen of Israel".
July 2018: Basic Law Characterizing Israel
On 19 July 2018, the Knesset passed a Basic Law that characterizes Israel as principally a "Nation State of the Jewish People" and Hebrew as its official language.
2018: Municipalities status
As of 2018 there are 77 localities granted "municipalities" status by the Ministry of the Interior in Israel, four of which are in the West Bank.
2018: Country ranked in the World Giving Index
In 2018, Israel ranked 38th in the World Giving Index.
2018: U.S. is expected to provide Israel
Under a memorandum of understanding signed in 2016, the U.S. is expected to provide Israel with $3.8 billion per year from 2018 to 2028.
2018: Arabic language status downgrade
Until 2018, Arabic was an official language of Israel. In 2018 it was downgraded to having a "special status in the state".
2019: Bloomberg Innovation Index ranking
In 2019, Israel was ranked 5th in the Bloomberg Innovation Index.
2019: Leviathan Gas Field Production
In 2019, the Leviathan gas field started production.
2020: Matriculation certificate rate
In 2020, 68.7% of 12th graders in Israel earned a matriculation certificate.
2020: Police investigations into settler violence in the West Bank
In 2020, 96% of police investigations into settler violence in the West Bank ended without an indictment.
2020: Imports and Exports Total
In 2020, imports totalled $96.5 billion and exports reached $114 billion.
2020: Abraham Accords
In 2020, the Abraham Accords normalized ties with more Arab states.
2020: Increase of mortgages
In 2021 Israelis took a record of NIS 116.1 billion in mortgages, an increase of 50% from 2020.
2020: Israel ranked 8th globally for arms exports
Israel ranked 8th globally for arms exports in 2020–2024.
May 2021: Fighting in Gaza and Israel
In May 2021, another round of fighting occurred in Gaza and Israel, lasting eleven days.
2021: Increase in housing prices and record mortgages
By 2021 housing prices in Israel rose by 5.6%, and Israelis took a record of NIS 116.1 billion in mortgages, an increase of 50% from 2020.
2021: Israel ranked 15th in the world by total military expenditure
In 2021, Israel ranked 15th in the world by total military expenditure, with $24.3 billion, and 6th by defence spending as a percentage of GDP, with 5.2%.
2021: Survey on Israeli apartheid
In 2021, a Washington Post survey of scholars and academic experts on the Middle East found an increase from 59% to 65% describing Israel as a "one-state reality akin to apartheid".
2022: Arab-led Parties in the Knesset
As of 2022, Arab-led parties held about 10% of seats in the Knesset.
2022: Religious affiliation
As of 2022, the estimated religious affiliation in Israel was 73.5% Jewish, 18.1% Muslim, 1.9% Christian, 1.6% Druze, and 4.9% other.
2022: Properties in Israel
As of 2022, there are about 2.7 million properties in Israel, with an annual increase of over 50,000.
2022: UN Human Rights Council on Israeli apartheid
In 2022, Michael Lynk, a Canadian law professor appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council, stated that the situation met the legal definition of apartheid, concluding that "Israel has imposed upon Palestine an apartheid reality in a post-apartheid world".
2022: The Economist ranked Israel's economy
In 2022, The Economist ranked Israel as the fourth most successful economy among the developed countries.
2022: Israel ranked low in the Global Peace Index
Israel consistently rated low in the Global Peace Index, ranking 134th out of 163 nations in 2022.
October 2023: Hamas Launches Coordinated Attacks on Israel
On 7 October 2023, Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas launched coordinated attacks on Israel, marking the beginning of the Gaza war. Approximately 1,300 Israelis were killed, and over 200 hostages were taken to the Gaza Strip.
October 2023: Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
Since October 2023, Israel has been in conflict with Hezbollah due to Hezbollah shooting rockets at Israel to support Hamas in Gaza.
October 2023: IMF Estimated Israel's GDP
As of October 2023, the IMF estimated Israel's GDP at 521.7 billion dollars and GDP per capita at 53.2 thousand, ranking 13th worldwide.
2023: Gaza War reporting suppression allegations
During the 2023 Gaza war, Israel has been alleged to be "trying to suppress the reporting coming out of the besieged enclave while disinformation infiltrates its own media ecosystem".
2023: Ben Gurion Airport passengers
In 2023, Ben Gurion Airport handled over 21.1 million passengers.
2023: Population of East Jerusalem and West Bank areas
In 2023, East Jerusalem and West Bank areas had a total population of 617,580 inhabitants.
February 2024: ICJ hearings and opinion on Israeli practices in occupied territory
In February 2024, the ICJ held public hearings regarding the legal consequences of Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem. In its 2024 advisory opinion, the ICJ found that Israel's occupation constitutes systemic discrimination and is in breach of Article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
April 2024: Israel Initiates Airstrikes on Iran
In April 2024, Israel initiated a wave of airstrikes on Iran after Iranian strikes targeted Israel, marking the first direct exchange of fire between the two countries.
May 2024: Al Jazeera local offices shut down
In May 2024, Israel shut down the local offices of Al Jazeera. In 2024, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Israel was the second leading country in jailing journalists, and responsible for the majority of journalists killed in the world.
September 2024: Assassination of Hassan Nasrallah
In September 2024, Israel assassinated Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah.
October 2024: Israel Invades Lebanon
In October 2024, Israel invaded Lebanon and exchanged missile barrages with Iran three weeks later in response to Iranian strikes earlier that month.
November 2024: Ceasefire Agreement
In November 2024, a ceasefire agreement instructed Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.
2024: ICJ advisory opinion on Palestinian territories
In 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories violated international law. The ICJ stated that Israel should end its occupation as quickly as possible and pay reparations. The court also found Israel in breach of Article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
2024: Paris Olympics Medals
Israel has won seven medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
2024: Israel ranked 8th globally for arms exports
Israel ranked 8th globally for arms exports in 2020–2024.
2024: Freedom House report
The 2024 Freedom House report found Israeli media is "vibrant and free to criticize government policy". Also in the 2024 Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, Israel was placed 112th of 180 countries, second in the Middle East and North Africa.
February 2025: Withdrawal from Lebanon
By February 2025, Israel mostly withdrew from Lebanon, but Israeli forces stayed in five military outposts on highlands in Southern Lebanon, against the agreement.
April 2025: Population Estimate
As of April 2025, the population of Israel was an estimated 10,094,000.
June 2025: Renewed Airstrikes on Iran
In June 2025, Israel launched a renewed series of airstrikes on Iran, targeting Iran's air defence systems, missile launchers, their military leadership, and their nuclear programme, escalating into a full-scale war.
2025: Ending of police investigations into settler violence in the West Bank
96% of police investigations into settler violence in the West Bank from 2020 to 2025 ended without an indictment.
2025: Israel recognizes Somaliland
As of 2025, Israel is the only UN member state to recognise the Republic of Somaliland.
2025: Global Innovation Index ranking
In 2025, Israel was ranked 14th in the Global Innovation Index.
February 2026: Extensive Airstrikes on Iran
In February 2026, Israel and the United States launched extensive airstrikes on Iran, assassinating Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and sparking the 2026 Iran war and the 2026 Lebanon war.
2028: Projected Haredi Jewish population
It is expected that by 2028, Haredi Jews will represent over 20% of the Jewish population in Israel.
2028: U.S. is expected to provide Israel
Under a memorandum of understanding signed in 2016, the U.S. is expected to provide Israel with $3.8 billion per year from 2018 to 2028.
2030: Goal for electric vehicles on the roads
By 2030, the country aims to have 30% of vehicles on its roads powered by electricity.
2050: Expected water supply from desalination programs
It is expected that by 2050, desalination programmes will supply 70% of Israel's drinking water.
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