History of Israel in Timeline
Israel, located in the Southern Levant region of West Asia, borders Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. It occupies the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan Heights. Its coastlines lie on the Mediterranean and Red Seas, encompassing the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is the proclaimed capital and seat of government, while Tel Aviv serves as the economic center. The country's complex geopolitical situation and historical significance contribute to its global relevance.
1904: Second Aliyah
The Second Aliyah began in 1904 after the Kishinev pogrom.
1907: Establishment of Bar-Giora
In 1907, Jewish armed militias emerged, the first being Bar-Giora.
1909: Establishment of Tel Aviv
In 1909, Tel Aviv was established as the first planned Jewish town.
1914: Emigration of Jews
Between 1882 and 1914, three million Jews emigrated from tsarist Russia due to antisemitism, pogroms, and official policies; only 1% went to Palestine.
1914: End of the Second Aliyah
The Second Aliyah ended in 1914, during which time some 40,000 Jews settled in Palestine, though nearly half eventually left.
1917: Balfour Declaration
In 1917, Britain endorsed the Zionist movement's goal of establishing a Jewish homeland with the Balfour Declaration.
1918: Habima Theatre founded
In 1918, Habima Theatre in Tel Aviv, Israel's oldest repertory theater company and national theater, was founded.
1918: Jewish Legion in British Conquest
In 1918, the Jewish Legion, composed primarily of Zionist volunteers, assisted in the British conquest of Palestine.
1919: Third Aliyah
The Third Aliyah began in 1919, bringing additional Jews to Palestine.
1920: British Mandate
From 1920 to 1948, the entire region was known as Palestine under the British Mandate.
1920: Mandatory Palestine
In 1920, Britain began ruling Mandatory Palestine, further advancing the Zionist movement's cause.
1920: Division of Territory
In 1920, the territory was divided between Britain and France under the mandate system; the British-administered area was named Mandatory Palestine.
1922: League of Nations Mandate
In 1922, the League of Nations granted Britain the Mandate for Palestine, including the Balfour Declaration.
1923: Third Aliyah
The Third Aliyah lasted until 1923, during that time additional Jews were brought to Palestine.
1924: Fourth Aliyah
The Fourth Aliyah began in 1924, bringing additional Jews to Palestine.
1929: Fourth Aliyah
The Fourth Aliyah ended in 1929, during that time additional Jews were brought to Palestine.
1936: Arab Revolt
In 1936, the Arab revolt began as a result of increased Jewish immigration.
1939: White Paper
In 1939, the British introduced restrictions on Jewish immigration to Palestine with the White Paper.
1942: Highest temperature recorded
In 1942, the highest temperature of 54 °C (129 °F) was recorded in the Tirat Zvi kibbutz.
July 1946: Irgun bombing
On 22 July 1946, Irgun bombed the British administrative headquarters for Palestine, killing 91 people.
February 1947: British referral to the UN
In February 1947, the British referred the Palestine issue to the newly formed United Nations.
May 1947: UN General Assembly Resolution
On 15 May 1947, the UN General Assembly resolved to create a Special Committee 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.
September 1947: British decision to evacuate
In September 1947, the British cabinet decided to evacuate Palestine as the Mandate was no longer tenable.
November 1947: UN Resolution 181 (II)
On 29 November 1947, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 181 (II), which proposed a partition plan for Palestine.
December 1947: Arab Higher Committee Strike
On 1 December 1947, the Arab Higher Committee proclaimed a three-day strike, and riots broke out in Jerusalem.
1947: UN Partition Plan
In 1947, the United Nations (UN) Partition Plan was created, which intensified the civil war.
1947: Jewish insurgency continued
The Jewish insurgency continued throughout 1947 despite British efforts to suppress it.
April 1948: Haganah Offensive
In April 1948, the Haganah moved onto the offensive against Arab militias and gangs.
May 1948: End of British Mandate
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: Declaration of a Jewish State
On 14 May 1948, David Ben-Gurion declared "the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel", leading to the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
1948: Founding of the IDF
During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) was founded by consolidating paramilitary organizations, chiefly the Haganah.
1948: State of war with Syria
In 1948, Israel entered a formal state of war with Syria, which has remained uninterrupted since then.
1948: Influx of Jewish Immigrants
In 1948, Israel experienced a large influx of Holocaust survivors and Jews from Arab and Muslim countries, significantly increasing its Jewish population.
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.
1948: Retention of Population Since 1948
Retention of Israel's population since 1948 is about even or greater, when compared to other countries with mass immigration.
1948: Establishment of the State of Israel
Upon establishment in 1948, the country formally adopted the name State of Israel.
May 1949: Israel admitted to the UN
On 11 May 1949, Israel was admitted as a member of the UN by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 273.
1949: Turkey recognizes Israel
In 1949, Turkey recognized Israel and began cooperating with the Jewish state.
1949: Armistice
In 1949, an armistice resulted in Israel gaining territory beyond the UN plan, while no Arab state was created, and the Gaza Strip and West Bank fell under Egyptian and Jordanian control.
1949: 1949 Armistice Agreements
The sovereign territory of Israel is defined according to the demarcation lines of the 1949 Armistice Agreements.
1950: Law of Return
The 1950 Law of Return grants Jews the unrestricted right to immigrate to Israel and obtain Israeli citizenship.
1952: Over 200,000 People in Ma'abarot
By 1952, over 200,000 people in Israel were living in temporary camps known as ma'abarot due to the influx of Jewish refugees.
1953: Disbanding of Mossad LeAliyah Bet
In 1953, Mossad LeAliyah Bet was disbanded.
1953: State Education Law
The State Education Law was established in 1953 which established five types of schools.
1955: Start of foreign aid program
In 1955, Israel began its foreign aid program in Burma and then shifted to Africa.
1956: Suez Crisis and Sinai Invasion
In 1956, Israel, allied with the UK and France, invaded the Sinai Peninsula during the Suez Crisis, prompted by the blockade of the Suez Canal, increasing fedayeen attacks, and threatening Arab statements. They were later pressured to withdraw by the UN.
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: Population Rise to Two Million
By 1958, the population of Israel had risen to two million people due to immigration.
1962: Start of the Foreign Assistance Act
Starting in 1962, under the Foreign Assistance Act, the US has provided significant military assistance and grants 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: Arab Countries Attempt to Divert Jordan River Waters
In 1964, Arab countries, concerned about Israeli plans to divert waters from the Jordan River, attempted to divert the headwaters, causing tensions with Israel.
1964: Establishment of the PLO
In 1964, The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), was established.
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: Egyptian Mobilization and Blockade
In May 1967, Egypt massed its army near the border with Israel, expelled UN peacekeepers from the Sinai Peninsula, and blocked Israel's access to the Red Sea, leading to heightened tensions.
1967: Six-Day War
After the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, the Egyptian Sinai, and the Syrian Golan Heights.
1967: War of Attrition Begins
Following the 1967 war, Israel faced attacks from the Egyptians in the Sinai Peninsula during the War of Attrition.
1967: Souring relations with Africa
Following the 1967 war, relations between Israel and Africa soured, leading Israel's foreign aid program to shift its focus to Latin America.
1967: Occupation of the West Bank
From their occupation in 1967 until 1993, the Palestinians living in these territories were under Israeli military administration.
1967: Break in diplomatic relations 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 by government decree and reignited international controversy over the status of the city.
1967: Golan Heights
The text mentions the period of Golan Heights (1967–present).
1968: Summer Paralympics hosted by Israel
The 1968 Summer Paralympics were hosted by Israel.
1970: Relocation of Jewish Refugees
Between 1948 and 1970, approximately 1,150,000 Jewish refugees had relocated to Israel.
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
In 1970, the War of Attrition ended, during which Israel faced attacks from the Egyptians in the Sinai Peninsula.
1972: Munich Massacre
In 1972, Palestinian groups launched attacks against 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.
1973: Eurovision Song Contest participation
Since 1973, Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest nearly every year, winning it four times and hosting three times.
1973: Yom Kippur War
The text mentions that the Gaza-Israel conflict has been the most significant military engagement in the region since the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
1974: Start of US military aid
Since 1974, the United States has been a 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.
1975: Peak military expenditure
In 1975, Israel's military expenditure reached a peak of 30.3% of GDP.
July 1976: Raid to rescue hostages
In July 1976, Israeli commandos rescued 102 of 106 Israeli hostages after an airliner was hijacked in flight from Israel to France by Palestinian guerrillas.
1977: Likud Party Takes Control
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: 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.
1978: Camp David Accords Signed
In 1978, Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accords.
1978: Exclusion from Asian Games
Israel was excluded from the 1978 Asian Games and has not competed in Asian sport events since.
1979: Peace with Egypt
In 1979, peace was signed with Egypt, with Sinai being returned in 1982.
1979: Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty Signed
In 1979, the Egypt–Israel peace treaty was signed, leading to Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula.
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.
1981: Annexation of the Golan Heights
In 1981, Israel effectively annexed the Golan Heights, a move largely rejected by the international community.
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.
1982: Return of Sinai
In 1982, Sinai was returned to Egypt as part of the 1979 peace agreement.
1985: Start of search and rescue unit deployments
Between 1985 and 2015, Israel sent 24 delegations of their search and rescue unit the Home Front Command to 22 countries.
1986: Withdrawal 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.
1987: First Intifada Begins
In 1987, the First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule, broke out in the occupied territories.
1987: Red Sea Jazz Festival
Since 1987, Eilat has hosted the Red Sea Jazz Festival every summer.
1988: First Shavit Launch
In 1988, Israel first launched Shavit, a space launch vehicle, becoming the eighth nation with space launch capability.
1988: First Arab-led party established
The first Arab-led party in Israel was established in 1988.
1990: Train Passengers at 2.5 Million
In 1990, the number of train passengers per year was 2.5 million.
1990: Arrival of Russian-Speaking Immigrants
Over one million Russian-speaking immigrants arrived in Israel between 1990 and 2004.
1990: Immigration From Post-Soviet States Increase Population
Since 1990 immigration from the post-Soviet states increased Israel's population.
1991: Gulf War and Iraqi Missile Attacks
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 relations with Soviet Union
In 1991, diplomatic relations between Israel and the Soviet Union were renewed.
1991: Requirement for 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.
1992: 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 medals
Since its first win in 1992, Israel has won 20 Olympic medals.
1993: Report on chemical and biological weapons
In 1993, a report indicated that Israel possesses chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction.
1993: Oslo Accords
In 1993, the Oslo Accords were established with the Palestinians, resulting in mutual recognition and limited self-rule.
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 Post-Soviet States Increase Population
Between 1990 and 1994 immigration from the post-Soviet states increased Israel's population by twelve percent.
1994: Peace with Jordan
In 1994, Israel signed a peace agreement with Jordan.
1994: Admission 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 normalise relations with Israel.
November 1995: Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
In November 1995, Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amir, a far-right Jew who opposed the Oslo Accords.
1995: Improvement of relations with Greece
Since 1995, relations between Greece and Israel have improved following a decline in Israeli–Turkish relations.
1999: Election of Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak was elected prime minister in 1999.
2000: Early references to Canaan
Around 2000 BCE, early references to "Canaan" and "Canaanites" appear in ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian texts.
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 Yasser Arafat and Bill Clinton at the Camp David Summit, offering a plan for a Palestinian state.
2000: Second Intifada Begins
In late 2000, the Second Intifada began after a controversial visit by Sharon to the Temple Mount.
2000: Withdrawal from Lebanon
Israel withdrew from most of Lebanon in 1986 but continued to occupy a borderland buffer zone in southern Lebanon until 2000.
2001: Sharon Becomes Prime Minister
In 2001, Ariel Sharon became prime minister and carried out a plan to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
2002: Jenin, Jenin film release
In 2002, Mohammed Bakri made the film Jenin, Jenin dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict.
2003: Ilan Ramon's Space Mission
In 2003, Ilan Ramon became Israel's first astronaut, participating in the Space Shuttle Columbia's fatal mission.
2003: Drafting an official constitution
In 2003, the Knesset began to draft an official constitution based on the Basic Laws of Israel.
2003: U.S. aid to Israel
Until 2003, the United States provided more military assistance and grants to Israel than any other country for that period under the Foreign Assistance Act (period beginning 1962).
2004: Natural Gas Production 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 and found that the construction of the wall within the occupied Palestinian territory violates international law.
2004: Gold medal in windsurfing
Israel won a gold medal in windsurfing at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
2004: Arrival of Russian-Speaking Immigrants
Over one million Russian-speaking immigrants arrived in Israel between 1990 and 2004.
2004: Nobel Prize-winning scientists
Since 2004, Israel has produced six Nobel Prize-winning scientists, mostly in chemistry.
2005: Gush Katif Evacuation
In 2005, approximately 7,800 Israelis living in settlements in the Gaza Strip, known as Gush Katif, were evacuated by the government as part of its disengagement plan.
2005: Disengagement plan
In 2005, as part of a unilateral disengagement plan, Israel removed its settlers and forces from the territory but continues to maintain control of its airspace and waters.
2005: World Team Chess Championship
Israel hosted the World Team Chess Championship in 2005.
October 2006: Israeli Forces Withdraw From Lebanon
By October 2006, Israeli forces mostly withdrew from Lebanon.
2007: Earthquake Resistance
As of 2007, many public buildings as well as 50,000 residential buildings did not meet the new earthquake resistance standards.
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, and prevented persons from entering and exiting except for isolated cases it deemed humanitarian.
2007: Destruction of Syrian Nuclear Reactor
In 2007 the Israeli Air Force destroyed a nuclear reactor in Syria.
2008: Casualties From 2000 to 2008
Between 2000 and 2008, 1,063 Israelis, 5,517 Palestinians and 64 foreign citizens were killed.
2008: 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: 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.
2011: Ketura Sun Solar Field 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 valued at approximately $2 billion per year, with annual exports in the tens of millions of dollars.
June 2012: Influx of African Migrants
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 in response to over a hundred Palestinian rocket attacks.
2012: Academic Degrees Per Capita
In 2012, Israel ranked third in the number of academic degrees per capita (20 percent of the population).
2012: Israel Ranked Ninth in Space Competitiveness
In 2012, Israel was ranked ninth in the world by Futron's Space Competitiveness Index.
2013: Better Place Electric Car Company Shutdown
In 2013, Better Place, Israel's electric car company, shut down despite the country having a modern electric car infrastructure.
2013: Commercial Production from Tamar Field Begins
In 2013, commercial production of natural gas from the Tamar field began, producing over 7.5 billion cubic meters annually.
July 2014: 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: Artificially Produced Water Exceeds 50%
As of 2015, over 50 percent of the water used for households, agriculture, and industry in Israel is artificially produced.
2015: End of search and rescue unit deployments
Between 1985 and 2015, Israel sent 24 delegations of their search and rescue unit the Home Front Command to 22 countries.
2015: Tertiary Education Among OECD Members
In 2015, Israel ranked third among OECD members for the percentage of 25–64-year-olds with tertiary education.
2015: Net external debt surplus
In 2015, Israel's net external debt stood at a surplus of $69 billion.
2015: Train Passengers at 53 Million
In 2015, the number of train passengers per year had grown to 53 million.
2016: Survey of Israeli Jews
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: 199 Billion bcm of Proven Gas Reserves
As of 2016, Israel had 199 billion bcm of proven reserves of natural gas.
2016: Israelis Living in West Bank Settlements
In 2016, 399,300 Israelis lived in West Bank settlements.
2016: Books published in Hebrew
In 2016, 89 percent of the 7,300 books transferred to the National Library of Israel were in Hebrew.
2016: Life Expectancy in Israel
In 2016, the OECD estimated the average life expectancy in Israel at 82.5 years, the 6th-highest in the world.
2016: Tourism Growth in Israel
Tourism in Israel grew by 25 percent since 2016.
2016: US military aid agreement
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
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 (passed 2016) states that Israel's settlement activity constitutes a "flagrant violation" of international law and demands that Israel stop such activity and fulfill its obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
2017: Record Tourism in Israel
In 2017, a record 3.6 million tourists visited Israel, contributing 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
On July 19, 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: Number of Municipalities
As of 2018, there were 77 localities granted "municipalities" status by the Ministry of the Interior.
2018: Start of increased U.S. military aid
From 2018, the U.S. is expected to provide Israel with $3.8 billion per year until 2028, as agreed in a 2016 memorandum of understanding.
2018: Ranking in World Giving Index
In 2018, Israel ranked 38th in the World Giving Index.
2018: Arabic Downgraded to Special Status
Until 2018, Arabic was also an official language in Israel; in 2018 it was downgraded to having a "special status in the state".
2019: Ranking in the Bloomberg Innovation Index
In 2019, Israel ranked 5th in the Bloomberg Innovation Index.
2019: Leviathan Gas Field Production Starts
In 2019, the Leviathan gas field started production.
2020: Matriculation Certificate Earned
In 2020, 68.7% of 12th graders in Israel earned a matriculation certificate.
2020: Israel ranked 8th globally for arms exports
In 2020, Israel ranked 8th globally for arms exports for the period between 2020 and 2024.
2020: Trade Statistics
In 2020, Israel's imports totalled $96.5 billion, while exports reached $114 billion.
2020: NIS 116.1 Billion in Mortgages
In 2020, Israelis took a record of NIS 116.1 billion in mortgages.
2020: Abraham Accords
In 2020, the Abraham Accords led to normalized ties with more Arab states.
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, and 6th by defence spending as a percentage of GDP, with 5.2%.
2021: Scholarly opinions on Israel and apartheid
In 2021, a survey by The Washington Post revealed that 65% of scholars and academic experts on the Middle East 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 are approximately 2.7 million properties in Israel.
2022: Ranking in Global Peace Index
In 2022, Israel ranked 134th out of 163 nations in the Global Peace Index.
2022: UN report on apartheid in Palestine
In 2022, Michael Lynk, a U.N. Human Rights Council appointee, stated that the situation in Israel and Palestine met the legal definition of apartheid.
2022: The Economist ranks Israel
In 2022, The Economist ranked Israel as the fourth most successful economy among the developed countries.
2022: Religious Affiliation Estimates
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: Hamas Attacks and Gaza War
On 7 October 2023, Palestinian militant groups from Gaza, led by Hamas, launched coordinated attacks on Israel, marking the start of the Gaza war, with significant casualties and hostages taken.
October 2023: Israel-Hezbollah conflict
Starting in October 2023, there was nearly a year of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict due to Hezbollah shooting rockets at Israel to support Hamas in Gaza.
October 2023: IMF estimates of GDP and GDP per capita
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 Handled 21.1 Million Passengers
In 2023, Ben Gurion Airport handled over 21.1 million passengers.
2023: Population of East Jerusalem and West Bank
In 2023, East Jerusalem and West Bank areas had a total population of 617,580 inhabitants.
February 2024: ICJ hearings on Israel's practices in occupied territories
In February 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) held public hearings regarding the legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. During the hearings, 24 states and three international organizations stated that Israeli practices amount to prohibited acts of racial discrimination. The ICJ also found that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories 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 2024 Iran–Israel conflict the first time in which the two countries have ever directly exchanged fire.
May 2024: Al Jazeera local offices shut down
In May 2024, Israel shut down the local offices of Al Jazeera.
September 2024: Assassination of Hassan Nasrallah
In September 2024, Israel assassinated Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah.
October 2024: Israel invaded Lebanon
In October 2024, Israel invaded Lebanon and exchanged missile barrages with Iran three weeks later, in response to Iranian strikes earlier in that month.
November 2024: Ceasefire Agreement
In November 2024, a ceasefire agreement instructed Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.
2024: Israel ranked 8th globally for arms exports
In 2024, Israel ranked 8th globally for arms exports for the period between 2020 and 2024.
2024: Freedom House and Press Freedom Index reports
In 2024, the Freedom House report found Israeli media is "vibrant and free to criticise government policy", while the Press Freedom Index ranked Israel 101st of 180 countries.
2024: ICJ advisory opinion on Palestinian territories
In 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories violated international law and should end as quickly as possible. The ICJ also found Israel in breach of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
2024: Seven medals at the Paris Olympics
Israel won seven medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
February 2025: Withdrawal from Lebanon
By February 2025, Israel mostly withdrew from Lebanon, but against the agreement Israeli forces stayed in five military outposts on highlands in Southern Lebanon.
April 2025: Population Estimated at 10,094,000
In April 2025, Israel's population was estimated to be 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 defense systems, missile launchers, their military leadership, and their nuclear program, which escalated into a full-scale war.
2025: Ranking in the Global Innovation Index
In 2025, Israel is ranked 14th in the Global Innovation Index.
2028: Projected Haredi Jewish Population
Haredi Jews are expected to represent over 20% of the Jewish population by 2028.
2028: End of increased U.S. military aid agreement
Until 2028, the U.S. is expected to provide Israel with $3.8 billion per year from 2018, as agreed in a 2016 memorandum of understanding.
2030: Target for Electric Vehicles on Roads
By 2030, the country aims to have 30% of vehicles on its roads powered by electricity.
2050: Projected 70% Water Supply from Desalination
It is expected that by 2050, desalination will supply 70% of Israel's drinking water.
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