Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1964
Haifa University is founded in the new port city.
1964
Construction of the National Water Carrier is completed. A huge conduit, traversing
two-thirds of the country, the National Water Carrier transports 845 trillion gallons
(320 million cubic meters) of water per year.
May 1964
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is founded with the aim of destroying
Israel. The Palestinian National Charter of 1968 offi cially calls for liquidation of Israel.
May 1967
President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt closes the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping
and dismisses the UN peacekeeping force. Negotiations to reopen the straits fail.
June 5 -10,
Six-Day War. Israel defeats Egypt, occupies the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip,
1967
and takes the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan and the Golan Heights from
Syria.
June 19, 1967
The Israeli cabinet votes to approve offering Syria and Egypt a trade of territories con-
quered in the war in return for full peace.
October 6 -25,
Yom Kippur War. Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur,
1973
the Jewish Day of Atonement. After the Arabs make initial gains, Israel pushes back the
Syrians and threatens Damascus. Israeli forces cross the Suez Canal, cutting off Egypt's
Third Army. Israeli casualties are high. Despite the outcome, Syria and Egypt celebrate
the anniversary of the war as a victory.
1975
Beta Israel aliya. Israel offi cially recognizes Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel), and groups of
them begin to come to Israel in the 1980s.
May 17, 1977
Election upset. The Labor Party loses power for the fi rst time in the election of 1977,
and a government led by the Likud Party takes offi ce.
November
Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat addresses the Knesset.
1977
September
Egyptian President Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menahem Begin reach an
1978
agreement: Israel will return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in exchange for full peace.
March 26,
Egypt and Israel sign a peace treaty.
1979
June 7, 1981
Israel destroys an Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak to prevent Iraq from developing
nuclear weapons.
October 6,
Egyptian President Sadat is assassinated.
1981
June 6, 1982
First Lebanon War. Israel invades Lebanon to expel the PLO forces there. The offensive
is called Operation Peace for Galilee.
Second half
Israel has a severe monetary crisis characterized by soaring infl ation.
of 1983
1987-1991
First Intifada. There is a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli presence on the West
Bank and in the Gaza Strip.
January 17,
Iraq begins fi ring rockets at Israel shortly after a U.S.-led coalition attacks Iraqi forces
1991
in Kuwait.
