History of Israel in Timeline

Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia situated in the Southern Levant of the Middle East. It borders Lebanon and Syria to the north, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest, with the Mediterranean Sea to its west. It also occupies the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Jerusalem is its proclaimed capital, while Tel Aviv serves as its largest urban area and economic hub. It also has a coastline on the Red Sea at its southernmost point, and part of the Dead Sea lies along its eastern border.

1904: Second Aliyah begins

The Second Aliyah began in 1904 after the Kishinev pogrom, leading to approximately 40,000 Jews settling in Palestine.

1907: Bar-Giora founded

In 1907, the first Jewish armed militia, Bar-Giora, emerged.

1909: Tel Aviv established

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.

1914: End of the Second Aliyah

The Second Aliyah (1904–1914) concluded, during which Zionist socialist groups established the kibbutz movement.

1917: Balfour Declaration

In 1917, Chaim Weizmann secured the Balfour Declaration, stating Britain's support for the creation of a Jewish "national home" in Palestine.

1918: Habima Theatre founded

In 1918, the Habima Theatre was founded in Tel Aviv. It is Israel's oldest repertory theater company and national theater.

1918: Jewish Legion assisted British conquest

In 1918, the Jewish Legion assisted in the British conquest of Palestine.

1919: Third Aliyah begins

In 1919, the Third Aliyah began, bringing more Jews to Palestine.

1920: Palestine under British Mandate

Between 1920 and 1948, the entire region was known as Palestine under the British Mandate.

1920: Britain established Mandatory Palestine

In 1920, after World War I, Britain occupied the region and established Mandatory Palestine.

1920: Division of territory and Palestine riots

In 1920, the territory was divided between Britain and France and the British-administered area was named Mandatory Palestine; Arab opposition led to the 1920 Palestine riots.

1922: League of Nations granted Britain the Mandate for Palestine

In 1922, the League of Nations granted Britain the Mandate for Palestine, including the Balfour Declaration.

1923: Third Aliyah ends

In 1923, the Third Aliyah ended.

1924: Fourth Aliyah begins

In 1924, the Fourth Aliyah began, bringing more Jews to Palestine.

1929: Fourth Aliyah ends

In 1929, the Fourth Aliyah ended.

1936: Arab revolt

In 1936, the Arab revolt began, suppressed by British security forces and Zionist militias.

1939: White Paper of 1939

In 1939, the British introduced restrictions on Jewish immigration to Palestine with the White Paper of 1939.

1942: Record Temperature

In 1942, the highest temperature of 54 °C (129 °F) was recorded in the Tirat Zvi kibbutz.

July 1946: Irgun bombed British headquarters

On July 22, 1946, Irgun bombed the British administrative headquarters for Palestine, killing 91 people.

February 1947: British referred the Palestine issue to the UN

In February 1947, the British referred the Palestine issue to the newly formed United Nations.

May 1947: UN General Assembly resolved to create a Special Committee on Palestine

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: Jewish insurgency peaked

In July 1947, the Jewish insurgency continued and peaked, culminating in the Sergeants affair.

September 1947: British cabinet decided to evacuate Palestine

In September 1947, the British cabinet decided to evacuate Palestine as the Mandate was no longer tenable.

November 1947: UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 181 (II)

On November 29, 1947, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 181 (II), proposing a plan to partition Palestine.

December 1947: Arab Higher Committee proclaimed a three-day strike

On December 1, 1947, the Arab Higher Committee proclaimed a three-day strike, and riots broke out in Jerusalem, spiraling into a civil war.

1947: Civil war escalated

In 1947, intercommunal conflict between Jews and Arabs escalated into a civil war after a proposed partition by the United Nations was rejected by the Arabs.

April 1948: Haganah moved onto the offensive

In April 1948, the Haganah moved onto the offensive against Arab militias and gangs.

May 1948: British Mandate would end on 15 May 1948

Colonial Secretary Arthur Creech Jones announced that the British Mandate would end on 15 May 1948, at which point the British would evacuate.

May 1948: Israel declared independence

In May 1948, after the end of the British Mandate for Palestine, Israel declared independence.

May 1948: Declaration of the establishment of a Jewish state

On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion declared "the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel" and on the following day the armies of four Arab countries invaded, launching the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

1948: Forest Area Statistics

In 1948, forests accounted for 2% of the area of Israel, increasing to 8.5% by 2016 due to a large-scale forest planting program.

1948: Establishment of the State of Israel

In 1948, upon establishment, the country formally adopted the name State of Israel.

1948: Opposition to Yiddish

Prior to 1948, opposition to Yiddish, the historical language of the Ashkenazi Jews, was common among supporters of the Zionist movement, including the Yishuv, who sought to promote Hebrew's revival as a unifying national language.

1948: Population retention since 1948

Retention of Israel's population since 1948 is about even or greater, when compared to other countries with mass immigration.

1948: State of War with Syria

Since 1948, Israel remains formally in a state of war with Syria, dating back uninterrupted.

1948: Influx of Jewish refugees to Israel

Starting in 1948, an influx of Holocaust survivors and Jews from Arab and Muslim countries increased the number of Jews in Israel from 700,000 to 1,400,000.

1948: Arab-Israeli War

The 1948 Arab–Israeli War created refugees who now reside in the West Bank.

1948: Formation of the IDF

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) were founded during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War by consolidating paramilitary organisations, chiefly the Haganah.

May 1949: Israel admitted as a member of the UN

In May 1949, Israel was admitted as a member of the UN per United Nations General Assembly Resolution 273.

1949: Turkey's Recognition of Israel

In 1949, Turkey recognized Israel, cooperating with the Jewish state since then.

1949: Armistice Agreements Demarcation

In 1949, the Armistice Agreements established the demarcation lines for the sovereign territory of Israel, which excludes all territories captured during the 1967 Six-Day War.

1949: Green Line

The 1949 Green Line became the administrative boundary between Israel and the occupied territories.

1950: Law of Return

In 1950, the Law of Return granted Jews the unrestricted right to immigrate to Israel and obtain Israeli citizenship.

1950: Jordan Annexation of the West Bank

In 1950, the West Bank was occupied and annexed by Jordan following the 1949 Armistice Agreements. Only Britain recognized this annexation.

1952: Over 200,000 people were living in tent cities

By 1952, over 200,000 people were living in temporary camps known as ma'abarot.

1953: Mossad LeAliyah Bet disbanded

In 1953, Mossad LeAliyah Bet, which aided Jewish immigration, was disbanded.

1953: State Education Law established

The State Education Law was established in Israel in 1953, outlining five types of schools: state secular, state religious, ultra orthodox, communal settlement schools, and Arab schools.

1955: Start of Foreign Aid Program

In 1955, Israel began its foreign aid program in Burma, and later shifted its focus to Africa.

1956: Israel attacks Egypt in the Suez Crisis

In 1956, Israel attacked Egypt, joining a secret alliance with the UK and France, overrunning the Sinai Peninsula in the Suez Crisis, due to continued blockade of the Suez Canal and Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, together with increasing fedayeen attacks. Israel was pressured to withdraw by the UN in return for guarantees of Israeli shipping rights.

1957: Establishment of Mashav

In 1957, Israel's humanitarian efforts officially began 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.

1958: Israeli population rises to two million

By 1958, the population of Israel had risen to two million due to immigration.

1962: Start of Foreign Assistance Act

Starting in 1962, under the Foreign Assistance Act, the U.S. began providing significant military and grant aid to Israel.

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.

1964: Israel hosts and wins the 1964 AFC Asian Cup

Israel hosted and won the AFC Asian Cup in 1964.

1964: Arab countries try to divert waters of the Jordan River

Since 1964 Arab countries had been trying to divert the headwaters of the Jordan River to deprive Israel of water resources, provoking tensions.

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: Shmuel Yosef Agnon shared the 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, and blocked Israel's access to the Red Sea.

1967: Six-Day War

Following the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Egyptian Sinai Peninsula and Syrian Golan Heights.

1967: War of Attrition

Following the 1967 war, Israel faced attacks from the Egyptians in the Sinai Peninsula during the 1967–1970 War of Attrition.

1967: Relations soured following war

Following the 1967 war, relations with Africa soured, and Israel's foreign aid program shifted its focus to Latin America.

1967: Golan Heights

Golan Heights (1967–present)

1967: Severance of Diplomatic Relations with Soviet Union

In 1967, following the Six-Day War, diplomatic relations between Israel and the Soviet Union were broken.

1967: Occupation of West Bank

Since their occupation in 1967 until 1993, the Palestinians living in these territories were under Israeli military administration.

1967: Annexation of Jerusalem

The 1980 Jerusalem Law was believed by some to reaffirm Israel's 1967 annexation of Jerusalem.

1968: Israel hosts the 1968 Summer Paralympics

Israel hosted the 1968 Summer Paralympics.

1970: Jewish refugees relocated to Israel

Between 1948 and 1970, approximately 1,150,000 Jewish refugees relocated to Israel.

1970: War of Attrition

Following the 1967 war, Israel faced attacks from the Egyptians in the Sinai Peninsula during the 1967–1970 War of Attrition.

1970: Israel qualifies for the FIFA World Cup

In 1970, the Israel national football team qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the only time in its history.

1972: Massacre of Israeli athletes at the Summer Olympics in Munich

In 1972, there was a massacre of Israeli athletes at the Summer Olympics in Munich.

October 1973: Yom Kippur War

On 6 October 1973, the Egyptian and Syrian armies launched a surprise attack against Israeli forces, opening the Yom Kippur War, which ended on 25 October.

1973: Yom Kippur War

After the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israel signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan.

1973: Israel participates in Eurovision Song Contest

In 1973, Israel first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest.

1974: Start of US Military Aid

Since 1974, the United States has been a significant contributor of military aid to Israel.

1974: Israel Participates in Asian Games

The 1974 Asian Games, held in Tehran, were the last Asian Games in which Israel participated.

1975: Peak Military Expenditure

In 1975, military expenditure in Israel reached its peak, constituting 30.3% of GDP.

July 1976: Israeli commandos rescue hostages

In July 1976, Israeli commandos rescued 102 of 106 Israeli hostages from an airliner hijacked in flight from Israel to France by Palestinian guerrillas.

1977: Likud party takes control from the Labour Party

The 1977 Knesset elections marked a major turning point in Israeli political history as Menachem Begin's Likud party took control from the Labour Party.

March 1978: PLO guerilla raid from Lebanon led to the Coastal Road massacre

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: Israel excluded from the Asian Games

Israel was excluded from the 1978 Asian Games.

1978: Camp David Accords signed

Sadat and Begin signed the Camp David Accords in 1978.

1978: Israeli invasion of Lebanon

Since 1978, there have been five Israeli invasions of Lebanon, with the most recent invasion in October 2024.

1979: Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty

In 1979, as part of the Egypt-Israel peace treaty, Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt.

1980: Jerusalem Law

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.

June 1981: Israeli air force destroyed Iraq's sole nuclear reactor

On 7 June 1981, during the Iran–Iraq War, the Israeli air force destroyed Iraq's sole nuclear reactor, then under construction.

1981: Israel effectively annexed the Golan Heights

In 1981 Israel effectively annexed the Golan Heights.

1982: Occupation of Southern Lebanon

Between 1982 and 2000, Israel occupied part of southern Lebanon, known as the Security Belt.

1982: Israel invaded Lebanon to destroy the PLO bases

Following a series of PLO attacks in 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon to destroy the PLO bases.

1982: Sinai returned to Egypt

In 1982, after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt as part of a peace treaty.

1985: Israel sent delegations of search and rescue

Between 1985 and 2015, Israel sent 24 delegations of their search and rescue unit the Home Front Command to 22 countries.

1985: Israel bombing the PLO headquarters in Tunisia

In 1985, Israel responded to a Palestinian terrorist attack in Cyprus by bombing the PLO headquarters in Tunisia.

1986: Israel withdrew from most of Lebanon

Israel withdrew from most of Lebanon in 1986 but maintained a borderland buffer zone in southern Lebanon until 2000.

1987: The First Intifada

In 1987, The First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule, broke out.

1987: Red Sea Jazz Festival

Since 1987, Eilat has hosted the Red Sea Jazz Festival every summer.

1988: First Launch of Shavit

In 1988, the Shavit space launch vehicle was first launched, making Israel the eighth nation to have a space launch capability.

1988: First Arab-led Party

In 1988, the first Arab-led party was established in Israel.

1990: Immigration from the post-Soviet states increased Israel's population

Between 1990 and 1994, immigration from the post-Soviet states increased Israel's population by twelve percent.

1990: Train passengers at 2.5 million

In 1990, the number of train passengers per year in Israel was 2.5 million.

1990: Immigration from Soviet Union and Ethiopia begins

Mass immigration from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia began around 1990, leading to Russian and Amharic being widely spoken.

1991: Gulf War

During the 1991 Gulf War, the PLO supported Saddam Hussein and Iraqi missile attacks against Israel.

1991: Full Diplomatic Relations with Turkey

In 1991, Turkey and Israel established full diplomatic relations.

1991: Renewal of Diplomatic Relations with Soviet Union

In 1991, diplomatic relations between Israel and the Soviet Union, which had been broken in 1967, were renewed.

1991: Mandatory Security Rooms

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.

1992: Full Diplomatic Ties with India

In 1992, India established full diplomatic ties with Israel, fostering a strong military, technological and cultural partnership since then.

1992: Yitzhak Rabin became prime minister

In 1992, Yitzhak Rabin became prime minister.

1992: First Olympic medal for Israel

Since its first win in 1992, Israel has won nine Olympic medals.

1993: Report on Weapons of Mass Destruction

According to a 1993 report, Israel is believed to possess chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction.

1993: Oslo Accords signed

In 1993, Israel signed the Oslo Accords, which established mutual recognition and limited Palestinian self-governance in parts of the West Bank and Gaza.

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, and only partial Israeli military control.

1994: Immigration from the post-Soviet states increased Israel's population

Between 1990 and 1994, immigration from the post-Soviet states increased Israel's population by twelve percent.

1994: UEFA admits Israel

In 1994, UEFA agreed to admit Israel, allowing its football teams to compete in Europe.

1994: Israel–Jordan peace treaty was signed

In 1994, the Israel–Jordan peace treaty was signed.

November 1995: Rabin was assassinated

In November 1995, Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amir, a far-right Jew who opposed the Oslo Accords.

1995: Improved Relations with Greece

Since 1995, relations between Greece and Israel have improved, coinciding with a decline in Israeli-Turkish relations.

1999: Ehud Barak elected prime minister

Ehud Barak, was elected prime minister in 1999.

2000: Early references to Canaan

Around 2000 BCE, early references to "Canaanites" and "Canaan" appeared in Near Eastern and Egyptian texts, referring to politically independent city-states.

2000: Withdrawal from Southern Lebanon

Between 1982 and 2000, Israel occupied part of southern Lebanon, withdrawing in 2000.

2000: Camp David Summit

Ehud Barak conducted negotiations with Yasser Arafat and Bill Clinton at the 2000 Camp David Summit.

2000: Second Intifada began

In late 2000, after a controversial visit by Sharon to the Temple Mount, the Second Intifada began.

2000: Israel withdrew from most of Lebanon

Israel withdrew from most of Lebanon in 1986 but maintained a borderland buffer zone in southern Lebanon until 2000.

2000: State of War with Lebanon

Since the end of the Lebanese Civil War in 2000, Israel has been in a formal state of war with Lebanon, with the border remaining unagreed by treaty.

2001: Sharon became prime minister

Sharon became prime minister in a 2001 election.

2002: Release of Jenin, Jenin

In 2002, Mohammed Bakri released the film Jenin, Jenin, which dealt with the Arab-Israeli conflict and the status of Palestinians within Israel.

2003: Ilan Ramon on Space Shuttle Columbia

In 2003, Ilan Ramon became Israel's first astronaut, serving on the fatal mission of Space Shuttle Columbia.

2003: Drafting an official constitution

In 2003, the Knesset began to draft an official constitution based on the Basic Laws of Israel.

2003: US aid to Israel

Until 2003, the US provided the most aid to Israel under the Foreign Assistance Act, more than any other country.

2004: Production of natural gas begins

In 2004, Israel began producing natural gas from its own offshore gas fields.

2004: ICJ Advisory Opinion

In its 2004 advisory opinion on the legality of the construction of the West Bank barrier, the International Court of Justice said that the lands captured by Israel in the Six-Day War, including East Jerusalem, are occupied territory.

2004: Gold medal in windsurfing at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Israel won a gold medal in windsurfing at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

2004: Immigration from Soviet Union and Ethiopia

Over one million Russian-speaking immigrants arrived in Israel between 1990 and 2004.

2004: Nobel Prize Winners

Since 2004, Israel has produced six Nobel Prize-winning scientists, mostly in chemistry.

2005: Israel hosted the World Team Chess Championship

In 2005, Israel hosted the World Team Chess Championship.

2005: Disengagement plan evacuation

In 2005, approximately 7,800 Israelis living in settlements in the Gaza Strip (Gush Katif) were evacuated by the government as part of its disengagement plan.

2006: Second Lebanon War

In 2006, a Hezbollah artillery assault on Israel's northern border communities and a cross-border abduction of two Israeli soldiers precipitated the month-long Second Lebanon War.

2007: Building standards

As of 2007, many public buildings and 50,000 residential buildings in Israel did not meet the new earthquake resistant construction standards and were expected to collapse in a strong earthquake.

2007: German Reparations to Israel

By 2007, Germany had paid 25 billion euros in reparations to Israel and individual Israeli Holocaust survivors.

2007: Battle of Gaza

Following the 2007 Battle of Gaza, when Hamas assumed power in the Gaza Strip, Israel tightened control of the Gaza crossings along its border, as well as by sea and air.

2007: Israeli Air Force destroyed a nuclear reactor in Syria

In 2007 the Israeli Air Force destroyed a nuclear reactor in Syria.

2008: Suspension of Ties after Gaza War

As a result of the 2008 Gaza War, Mauritania, Qatar, Bolivia, and Venezuela suspended political and economic ties with Israel.

2008: Casualties

Between 2000 and 2008, 1,063 Israelis, 5,517 Palestinians and 64 foreign citizens were killed.

2008: Relations Downturn After Gaza War

Relations between Turkey and Israel experienced a downturn after the 2008-09 Gaza War and Israel's raid of the Gaza flotilla.

2008: Start of Gaza-Israel conflict

Since 2008, there have been five wars of the Gaza-Israel conflict.

2009: Tamar gas field discovered

In 2009, the Tamar gas field was discovered near the coast of Israel.

2010: Joined the OECD

In 2010, Israel joined the OECD.

2010: Joint Military Exercise with Greece

In 2010, the Israeli Air Force hosted Greece's Hellenic Air Force in a joint exercise.

2010: Leviathan gas field discovered

In 2010, the Leviathan gas field was discovered in Israel.

2011: Ketura Sun built

In 2011, Israel's first commercial solar field, Ketura Sun, was built by the Arava Power Company.

2011: Water technology industry worth $2 billion

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.

June 2012: 60,000 African migrants had entered Israel

By June 2012, approximately 60,000 African migrants had entered Israel.

2012: Operation in the Gaza Strip

In 2012, Israel began an operation in the Gaza Strip, lasting eight days.

2012: Third in academic degrees per capita

In 2012, Israel ranked third in the number of academic degrees per capita (20 percent of the population).

2012: Space Competitiveness Index Ranking

In 2012, Israel was ranked ninth in the world by the Futron's Space Competitiveness Index.

2013: Better Place shut down

In 2013, Better Place, Israel's electric car company, shut down after developing a countrywide network of charging stations.

2013: Commercial production from Tamar field begins

In 2013, commercial production of natural gas from the Tamar field began in Israel, with over 7.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) produced annually.

July 2014: Israel started another operation in Gaza

In July 2014, Israel started another operation in Gaza following an escalation of rocket attacks by Hamas.

2014: Desalination provides 35% of drinking water

By 2014, desalination programs in Israel provided roughly 35% of the country's drinking water.

2015: Settlers in the Knesset

After the 2015 election, 10 of the 120 members of the Knesset (8%) were settlers.

2015: Kosher restaurants statistics

As of 2015, Kosher restaurants make up around a quarter of the total restaurants in Israel.

2015: 50% of water artificially produced

As of 2015, over 50 percent of the water for households, agriculture and industry in Israel is artificially produced.

2015: Israel sent delegations of search and rescue

Between 1985 and 2015, Israel sent 24 delegations of their search and rescue unit the Home Front Command to 22 countries.

2015: Train passengers at 53 million

By 2015, the number of train passengers per year in Israel had grown to 53 million.

2015: Third among OECD members for tertiary education

In 2015, Israel ranked third among OECD members for the percentage of 25–64-year-olds with tertiary education (49%).

2015: Net External Debt Surplus

In 2015, Israel's net external debt stood at a surplus of $69 billion.

2016: Religious Identity Among Jews

A 2016 survey indicated that among Israeli Jews, 49% self-identified as Hiloni (secular), 29% as Masorti (traditional), 13% as Dati (religious), and 9% as Haredi (ultra-Orthodox).

2016: Natural gas reserves at 199 billion bcm

As of 2016, Israel had 199 billion bcm of proven reserves of natural gas.

2016: 399,300 Israelis lived in West Bank settlements

In 2016, 399,300 Israelis lived in West Bank settlements.

2016: 89 percent of books were in Hebrew

In 2016, 89 percent of the 7,300 books transferred to the library were in Hebrew.

2016: Forest Area Statistics

In 2016, forests accounted for 8.5% of the area of Israel, up from 2% in 1948 due to a large-scale forest planting program.

2016: Life expectancy estimated at 82.5 years

In 2016, the OECD estimated the average life expectancy in Israel at 82.5 years.

2016: Tourism increases 25%

Tourism in Israel grew by 25 percent in 2016.

2016: Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S.

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.

2016: UN Security Council Resolution 2334

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, passed in 2016, states that Israel's settlement activity constitutes a "flagrant violation" of international law.

2017: Record 3.6 million tourists visited Israel

In 2017, a record 3.6 million tourists visited Israel, yielding a 25 percent growth since 2016 and contributed NIS 20 billion to the economy.

2017: Identity 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 Passed

On July 19, 2018, the Knesset passed a Basic Law characterizing Israel as principally a "Nation State of the Jewish People" and Hebrew as its official language, ascribing an undefined "special status" to the Arabic language.

2018: 77 localities granted "municipalities" status

As of 2018, there are 77 localities granted "municipalities" (or "city") status by the Ministry of the Interior in Israel.

2018: Ranking in the World Giving Index

In 2018, Israel ranked 38th in the World Giving Index.

2018: Start of US aid

Starting in 2018, the U.S. is expected to provide Israel with $3.8 billion per year under a memorandum signed in 2016.

2018: Arabic downgraded to "special status"

Until 2018, Arabic was also an official language; in 2018 it was downgraded to having a "special status in the state".

2019: Bolivia Renews Ties with Israel

In 2019, Bolivia renewed political and economic ties with Israel, which had been suspended following the 2008 Gaza War.

2019: Bloomberg Innovation Index Ranking

In 2019, Israel was ranked 5th in the Bloomberg Innovation Index.

2019: Population in East Jerusalem and West Bank

In 2019, the total population of East Jerusalem and West Bank areas was 573,330 inhabitants.

2019: Leviathan gas field starts production

The Leviathan gas field in Israel started production in 2019.

2020: Matriculation certificate earned by 68.7% of 12th graders

In 2020, 68.7% of 12th graders in Israel earned a matriculation certificate.

2020: Trade Figures

In 2020, Israel's imports totaled $96.5 billion and exports reached $114 billion.

2020: Mortgages increase 50%

In 2020, Israelis took a record of NIS 116.1 billion in mortgages, an increase of 50% from 2020.

May 2021: Fighting took place in Gaza and Israel

In May 2021 another round of fighting took place in Gaza and Israel, lasting eleven days.

2021: Housing shortage and price increase

As of 2021, there was a shortage of about 200,000 apartments in Israel, resulting in housing prices rising by 5.6%.

2021: Military Expenditure Ranking

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: Washington Post Survey on Apartheid

In 2021, a Washington Post survey of scholars and academic experts on the Middle East indicated that 65% of these scholars described Israel as a 'one-state reality akin to apartheid'.

2022: Arab-led parties in Knesset

As of 2022, Arab-led parties hold about 10% of seats in the Knesset.

2022: 2.7 million properties in Israel

As of 2022, there were about 2.7 million properties in Israel, with an annual increase of over 50,000.

2022: Ranking for Arms Exports

In 2022, Israel ranked 9th globally for arms exports.

2022: UN Report on Apartheid

In 2022, Michael Lynk, a Canadian law professor appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council, concluded that the situation in Israel and Palestine met the legal definition of apartheid.

2022: Population demographics

In 2022, the government recorded the population of Israel as 73.6% Jews, 21.1% Arabs, and 5.3% "Others".

2022: Economist Ranking

The Economist ranked Israel as the 4th most successful economy among the developed countries for 2022.

2022: Religious Affiliation in 2022

The estimated religious affiliation in Israel as of 2022 was 73.5% Jewish, 18.1% Muslim, 1.9% Christian, 1.6% Druze, and 4.9% other.

October 2023: Hamas launched a series of coordinated attacks on Israel

On 7 October 2023, Palestinian militant groups from Gaza, led by Hamas, launched a series of coordinated attacks on Israel, leading to the start of the Gaza war. Approximately 1,300 Israelis, predominantly civilians, were killed and over 200 hostages were kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip.

October 2023: IMF Estimate of GDP

As of October 2023, the IMF estimated Israel's GDP at 521.7 billion dollars and GDP per capita at 53.2 thousand dollars.

2023: Ben Gurion Airport handled 21.1 million passengers

In 2023, Ben Gurion Airport handled over 21.1 million passengers.

February 2024: ICJ Hearings on Israeli Practices

In February 2024, the ICJ held public hearings regarding the legal consequences of Israel's policies in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. Several states and international organizations argued that these practices constitute a breach of the prohibition of apartheid and/or racial discrimination. The International Court of Justice found systemic discrimination in breach of Article 3.

May 2024: Israel shuts down Al Jazeera offices

In May 2024, Israel shut down the local offices of Al Jazeera.

May 2024: Population at 9,907,100

As of May 31, 2024, the population of Israel was an estimated 9,907,100.

October 2024: Israel invades Southern Lebanon

In October 2024, Israel invaded Southern Lebanon following nearly 12 months of conflict with Hezbollah, marking the fifth Israeli invasion of Lebanon since 1978.

2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2024, Israel is ranked 15th in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: ICJ Advisory Opinion on Palestinian Territories

In a 2024 advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice stated that occupation of the Palestinian territories violated international law, requiring Israel to end its occupation and pay reparations. Additionally, the court found Israel in breach of Article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.