History of Israel in Timeline

Israel is a country in West Asia, located in the Southern Levant of the Middle East. It borders Lebanon and Syria to the north, the West Bank and Jordan to the east, the Gaza Strip and Egypt to the southwest, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. It also has a small coastline on the Red Sea. Jerusalem is its proclaimed capital, while Tel Aviv serves as the country's largest urban area and economic center.

1904: Second Aliyah began

The Second Aliyah (1904–1914) began after the Kishinev pogrom; some 40,000 Jews settled in Palestine, although nearly half left eventually.

1907: Bar-Giora founded

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

1909: Tel Aviv was established

In 1909, Tel Aviv was established as the first planned Jewish town.

1914: Emigration of three million Jews

Antisemitism, pogroms and official policies, in tsarist Russia led to the emigration of three million Jews in the years between 1882 and 1914.

1914: Second Aliyah

The Second Aliyah (1904–1914) began after the Kishinev pogrom; some 40,000 Jews settled in Palestine, although nearly half left eventually.

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

Founded in 1918, Habima Theatre in Tel Aviv is Israel's oldest repertory theater company and national theater.

1918: Jewish Legion assisted in the British conquest of Palestine

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

1919: Third Aliyah

The Third Aliyah (1919–1923) brought an additional Jews to Palestine.

1920: Mandatory Palestine

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.

1920: Britain occupied the region and established Mandatory Palestine

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

1920: British Mandate

Under the British Mandate (1920–1948), the entire region was known as Palestine.

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

The Third Aliyah (1919–1923) brought an additional Jews to Palestine.

1924: Fourth Aliyah

The Fourth Aliyah (1924–1929) brought an additional Jews to Palestine.

1929: Fourth Aliyah

The Fourth Aliyah (1924–1929) brought an additional Jews to Palestine.

1936: Arab revolt

In 1936, the increasing persecution of Jews in 1930s Europe led to the Fifth Aliyah and was a major cause of the Arab revolt of 1936–39.

1939: British introduced restrictions on Jewish immigration

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

1942: Highest temperature recorded

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

July 1946: Irgun bombed the British administrative headquarters

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

February 1947: British referred the Palestine issue to the United Nations

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

May 1947: UN General Assembly resolved that a Special Committee be created

On 15 May 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 in July 1947, with a series of widespread guerrilla raids 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: General Assembly adopted Resolution 181

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

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

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

1947: Civil war escalated after a proposed partition by the United Nations was rejected

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 Palestinians.

April 1948: Haganah moved onto the offensive

In April 1948, the Haganah moved onto the offensive.

May 1948: British Mandate would end

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

May 1948: David Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of a Jewish state

On 14 May 1948, David Ben-Gurion declared "the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel", and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War began the next day.

1948: Mass Immigration Begins

In 1948, a massive influx of Holocaust survivors and Jews from Arab and Muslim countries started, greatly increasing Israel's Jewish population.

1948: Forests accounted for 2% of the area

In 1948, forests in Israel only accounted for 2% of the total area.

1948: Arab-Israeli War

In 1948, the Arab–Israeli War took place, leading to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank.

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

1948: Population Retention

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

1948: Founding of the IDF

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

1948: Establishment of the State of Israel

Upon establishment in 1948, the country formally adopted the name State of Israel.

May 1949: Israel was admitted as a member of the UN

By United Nations General Assembly Resolution 273, Israel was admitted as a member of the UN on 11 May 1949.

1949: Turkey's Recognition of Israel

In 1949, Turkey recognized Israel.

1949: Armistice Agreements

In 1949, the Armistice Agreements occurred, preceding Jordan's occupation and annexation of the West Bank in 1950.

1949: Green Line Established

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

1949: Armistice Agreements Demarcation Lines

In 1949, the sovereign territory of Israel was defined by the demarcation lines of the Armistice Agreements.

1950: Law of Return enacted

In 1950, Israel enacted the Law of Return, granting Jews the right to immigrate to Israel and obtain citizenship.

1950: West Bank occupied and annexed by Jordan

In 1950, the West Bank was occupied and annexed by Jordan following the 1949 Armistice Agreements.

1952: Ma'abarot Population

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

1953: Mossad LeAliyah Bet was disbanded

Mossad LeAliyah Bet was disbanded in 1953.

1953: State Education Law

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

1955: Start of foreign aid program in Burma

In 1955, Israel began its foreign aid program in Burma.

1956: Suez Crisis

In 1956, Israel, in alliance with the UK and France, attacked Egypt in the Suez Crisis due to the continued blockade and increasing fedayeen attacks. Israel overran the Sinai Peninsula but was pressured to withdraw by the UN in return for guarantees of Israeli shipping rights. The war resulted in significant reduction of Israeli border infiltration.

1957: Establishment of Mashav

In 1957, Mashav, the Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, was established, marking the official start of Israel's humanitarian efforts.

1957: UN Peacekeepers in Sinai

Since 1957 UN peacekeepers were stationed in the Sinai Peninsula, until Egypt expelled them in May 1967.

1958: Population Growth

By 1958, Israel's population had risen to two million.

1962: Beginning of Foreign Assistance Act

The period beginning in 1962 marks the start of the Foreign Assistance Act, under which the United States has provided significant 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: Establishment of the PLO

In 1964, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) was established, initially committing itself to armed struggle as the only way to liberate the homeland.

1964: AFC Asian Cup

Israel hosted and won the 1964 AFC Asian Cup.

1964: Arab Countries' Water Diversion Plans

Since 1964 Arab countries had been trying to divert the headwaters of the Jordan River to deprive Israel of water resources, provoking tensions between Israel on the one hand, and Syria and Lebanon on the other.

1966: Escalation of Israeli-Arab Relations

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: Egyptian Mobilization and Blockade

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

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

1967: War of Attrition Begins

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

1967: Relations soured after war

Following the 1967 war, Israel's relations with some countries soured.

1967: Occupation of Territories

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

1967: Golan Heights

In 1967, Israel captured and occupied the Golan Heights.

1967: Israel captured territories

In 1967, as a result of the Six-Day War, Israel captured and occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights. Israel also captured the Sinai Peninsula but returned it to Egypt as part of the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty.

1967: Diplomatic relations broken with the Soviet Union

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

1967: Annexation of Jerusalem

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

1967: Territories Captured

The sovereign territory of Israel excludes all territories captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War.

1968: Summer Paralympics hosted by Israel

In 1968, the Summer Paralympics were hosted by Israel.

1970: End of Major Relocation Period

By 1970, approximately 1,150,000 Jewish refugees had relocated to Israel since 1948.

1970: FIFA World Cup qualification

In 1970 the Israel national football team qualified for the FIFA World Cup, the only time it participated.

1970: War of Attrition Ends

Israel faced attacks from the Egyptians in the Sinai Peninsula during the 1967-1970 War of Attrition.

1972: Munich Massacre

In 1972, Palestinian groups committed 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 in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights, opening the Yom Kippur War.

1973: Yom Kippur War

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

1973: Eurovision Song Contest participation

Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest nearly every year since 1973.

1973: Comparison to Yom Kippur War in 1973

The fifth war of the Gaza-Israel conflict since 2008 was the most significant military engagement in the region since the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

1974: US military aid contribution

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

1974: Exclusion from Asian Games

The 1974 Asian Games, held in Tehran, were the last Asian Games in which Israel participated, plagued by Arab countries that refused to compete with Israel.

1975: Peak Military Expenditure

In 1975, military expenditure in Israel peaked at 30.3% of GDP.

July 1976: Entebbe Rescue

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 Victory and Sadat's Visit

The 1977 Knesset elections marked a major turning point as Menachem Begin's Likud party took control from the Labour Party. Later that year, Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat made a trip to Israel and spoke before the Knesset.

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.

1978: The fifth Israeli invasion of Lebanon since 1978

On 1 October 2024, Israel invaded Southern Lebanon, marking the fifth Israeli invasion of Lebanon since 1978.

1979: Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty

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

1980: Jerusalem Law

The 1980 Jerusalem Law reaffirmed Israel's annexation of Jerusalem and reignited international controversy.

June 1981: Destruction of Iraqi Nuclear Reactor

On 7 June 1981, the Israeli air force destroyed Iraq's sole nuclear reactor to impede the Iraqi nuclear weapons programme.

1981: Annexation of the Golan Heights

In 1981 Israel effectively annexed the Golan Heights. The international community largely rejected this move.

1982: Occupation of Southern Lebanon

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

1982: Invasion of Lebanon

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

1982: Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt

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

1985: Start of Home Front Command delegations

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

1985: Bombing of PLO Headquarters in Tunisia

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

1986: Withdrawal from Lebanon

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

1987: Red Sea Jazz Festival

Eilat has hosted its own international music festival, the Red Sea Jazz Festival, every summer since 1987.

1987: First Intifada

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

1988: First launch of Shavit

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

1988: First Arab-led party established

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

1990: Increased Immigration from Post-Soviet States

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

1990: Low train passengers

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

1990: Immigration wave

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

1991: Gulf War and Iraqi Missile Attacks

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: Full diplomatic relations established with Turkey

In 1991, Turkey and Israel established full diplomatic relations.

1991: Diplomatic relations renewed with the Soviet Union

In 1991, diplomatic relations between Israel and the Soviet Union were renewed.

1991: Reinforced security rooms required

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 established with India

In 1992, India established full diplomatic ties with Israel, fostering a strong partnership.

1992: First Olympic Medal

In 1992, Israel secured its first Olympic medal.

1992: Rabin Elected Prime Minister

In 1992, Yitzhak Rabin became prime minister following an election in which his party called for compromise with Israel's neighbors.

1993: Israel signed the Oslo Accords

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: Report on weapons of mass destruction

Per a 1993 report, Israel is believed to possess 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, and only partial Israeli military control.

1994: Increased Immigration from Post-Soviet States

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

1994: Admittance to UEFA

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

1994: Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty

In 1994, the Israel-Jordan peace treaty was signed, making Jordan the second Arab country to normalize relations with Israel.

November 1995: Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin

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

1995: Improved relations between Greece and Israel

Since 1995, relations between Greece and Israel have improved following the decline of Israeli-Turkish relations.

1999: Barak Elected Prime Minister

Ehud Barak was elected prime minister in 1999.

2000: Early references to "Canaanites" and "Canaan"

Around 2000 BCE, early references to "Canaanites" and "Canaan" appear in Near Eastern and Egyptian texts.

2000: Withdrawal from Southern Lebanon

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

2000: Camp David Summit

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

2000: Second Intifada Begins

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

2000: State of war with Lebanon

Israel has been in a similarly formal state of war with Lebanon since the end of the Lebanese Civil War in 2000.

2001: Sharon Becomes Prime Minister

Ariel Sharon became prime minister in a 2001 election and carried out his plan to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip and spearheaded the construction of the West Bank barrier.

2002: Jenin, Jenin film

Palestinian Israeli filmmakers have made films dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict and status of Palestinians within Israel, such as Mohammed Bakri's 2002 film Jenin, Jenin and The Syrian Bride.

2003: First Israeli astronaut

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

2003: Drafting an official constitution began

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

2003: US aid to Israel

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

2004: Gold Medal in Windsurfing

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

2004: ICJ advisory opinion on West Bank barrier

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 and found that the construction of the wall within the occupied Palestinian territory violates international law.

2004: Start of natural gas production

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

2004: Nobel Prize winners since 2004

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

2004: Immigration wave

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

2005: Disengagement plan

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 2005 disengagement plan.

2005: World Team Chess Championship

In 2005, Israel hosted the World Team Chess Championship.

2006: Second Lebanon War

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

2007: Earthquake Resistance Concerns

As of 2007, many public and 50,000 residential buildings in Israel did not meet earthquake resistance 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: Hamas assumes power

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: Destruction of Syrian Nuclear Reactor

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

2008: Suspension of ties due to Gaza War

As a result of the 2008–09 Gaza War, Mauritania, Qatar, Bolivia, and Venezuela suspended political and economic ties with Israel.

2008: Casualties of the Second Intifada

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

2008: Gaza War

In 2008, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel collapsed, resulting in the three-week Gaza War.

2008: Relations downturn after Gaza War

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

2008: The fifth war of the Gaza-Israel conflict since 2008

The war on Gaza became the fifth war of the Gaza-Israel conflict since 2008.

2009: Tamar gas field discovery

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

2010: Israel joined the OECD

In 2010, Israel joined the OECD.

2010: Leviathan gas field discovery

In 2010, Leviathan gas field was discovered near the coast of Israel.

2010: Joint exercise between Israeli and Greek Air Forces

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

2011: Ketura Sun built

Built in 2011 by the Arava Power Company, Ketura Sun is Israel's first commercial solar field.

2011: Water technology industry worth

In 2011, Israel's water technology industry was worth around $2 billion per year.

June 2012: African Migrants entering Israel

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

2012: Operation in Gaza

In 2012, Israel began an operation in the Gaza Strip in response to over a hundred Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israeli cities, lasting eight days.

2012: Space Competitiveness Index Ranking

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

2012: Academic degrees per capita

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

2013: Commercial production from Tamar field began

In 2013, commercial production of natural gas from the Tamar field began.

2013: Better Place shut down

Israel's electric car company Better Place shut down in 2013.

July 2014: Operation in Gaza

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

2014: Desalination provided drinking water

By 2014, desalination programmes provided roughly 35% of the drinking water in Israel.

2015: Settlers in the Knesset

After the 2015 election, 10 of the 120 members of the Knesset (8%) were settlers from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

2015: Artificially Produced Water Percentage

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

2015: End of Home Front Command delegations

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

2015: Tertiary Education

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

2015: Net External Debt Surplus

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

2015: High train passengers

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

2015: Kosher restaurants proportion

Kosher restaurants make up around a quarter of the total as of 2015.

2016: Religious Identification

A 2016 survey by Pew Research indicates 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: Israeli Settler Population

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

2016: Books transferred to library

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

2016: Forests accounted for 8.5% of the area

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

2016: Life Expectancy

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

2016: Tourism growth

Tourism grew by 25% since 2016, with a record 3.6 million tourists visiting Israel in 2017 and contributing NIS 20 billion to the economy.

2016: Memorandum of understanding signed with the U.S.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed in 2016, the U.S. is expected to provide the country 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: Tourism boom in Israel

In 2017, Israel experienced a record of 3.6 million tourists, marking a 25 percent increase from 2016 and contributing 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 the "Nation State of the Jewish People" and Hebrew as its official language.

2018: Municipalities

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

2018: Israel's ranking in World Giving Index

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

2018: Start of increased military aid from the U.S.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed in 2016, the U.S. began providing Israel with $3.8 billion per year in military aid in 2018.

2018: Downgrading of Arabic language status

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

2019: Bolivia renewed ties with Israel

In 2019, Bolivia renewed political and economic ties with Israel, which had been suspended earlier.

2019: Population in East Jerusalem and West Bank

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

2019: Bloomberg Innovation Index Ranking

Israel is ranked 5th in the 2019 Bloomberg Innovation Index.

2019: Leviathan gas field started production

The Leviathan gas field started production in 2019.

2020: Matriculation certificate

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

2020: Imports and exports total in billions

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

2020: Mortgage Increase

In 2021 Israelis took a record of NIS 116.1 billion in mortgages, an increase of 50% from 2020.

May 2021: Fighting in Gaza and Israel

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

2021: Military Expenditure Ranking

In 2021, Israel ranked 15th in the world by total military expenditure, with $24.3 billion.

2021: Housing Market Trends

In 2021, housing prices rose by 5.6% and Israelis took a record of NIS 116.1 billion in mortgages.

2021: Washington Post survey on Apartheid

The Washington Post's 2021 survey found that a majority of scholars and experts on the Middle East described Israel as a "one-state reality akin to apartheid".

2022: Arab-led parties hold about 10% of seats

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

2022: Properties in Israel

As of 2022, Israel had approximately 2.7 million properties.

2022: UN Human Rights Council report on Apartheid

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

2022: Population Demographics

In 2022, the Israeli government recorded that 73.6% of the population were Jews, 21.1% were Arabs, and 5.3% were classified as "Others".

2022: Arms Exports Ranking

Israel ranked 9th globally for arms exports in 2022.

2022: Economy ranking by The Economist

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

2022: Religious Affiliation

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

October 2023: IMF Estimate of 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.

October 2023: Hamas 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 were killed and over 200 hostages were kidnapped.

2023: Ben Gurion Airport passenger traffic

In 2023, Ben Gurion Airport handled over 21.1 million passengers making it the country's main hub for international air travel.

February 2024: ICJ Hearings on Israeli Practices

In February 2024, the ICJ held public hearings regarding the legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

May 2024: Al Jazeera offices shut down

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

May 2024: Estimated Population

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

October 2024: Israel invades Southern Lebanon

On 1 October 2024, Israel invaded Southern Lebanon, marking the fifth Israeli invasion of Lebanon since 1978.

2024: ICJ Advisory Opinion on Palestinian Territories

In a 2024 advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice stated that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories violated international law and that Israel should end its occupation and pay reparations.