Independence Day

H ome

Independence Day*

"The birthplace of the Jewish people is the Land of Israel (Eretz Israel). There, a significant part of the nation's long history was enacted, of which the first thousand years are recorded in the Bible there, its cultural, religious and national identity was formed; and there, its physical presence has been maintained unbroken through the centuries, even after the majority was forced into exile. During the many years of dispersion, the Jewish people never severed nor forgot its bond with the Land. With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Jewish independence, lost two thousand years earlier, was renewed."

*From The Israel Information Center Web Site: http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/facts/hist/fhistl.html

1948	State of Israel proclaimed (May 14) Israel Invaded by five Arab states (May 15) War of Independence Israel Defense Force (IDF) established
1949	Jerusalem divided under Israeli and Jordanian rule First Knesset (parliament) elected
1948-52	Mass immigration from Europe and Arab countries
1956	Sinai Campaign
1967	Six-Day War; Jerusalem reunited
1968-70	Egypt's War of Attrition against Israel
1973	Yom Kippur War
1975	Israel becomes an associate member of the European Common Market
1977	Visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem
1978	Camp David Accords include framework for comprehensive peace in the Middle East and proposal for Palestinian self-government
1979	Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty signed
1981	Israel Air Force destroys Iraqi nuclear reactor just before it is to become operative
1982	Israel's three-stage withdrawal from Sinai Peninsula completed
1984	Operation Moses, immigration of Jews from Ethiopia
1985	Free Trade Agreement signed with United States
1987	Widespread violence (intifada) starts in Israeli-administered areas
1989	Four-point peace initiative proposed by Israel Start of mass immigration of Jews from former Soviet Union Great Hopes and........... Today's Reality.
1991	Israel attacked by Iraqi Scud missiles during Gulf War Middle East peace conference convened in Madrid Operation Solomon, airlift of Jews from Ethiopia
1993	Declaration of Principles on Interim self-government in Gaza Strip and Jericho area Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty signed Rabin, Peres, Arafat awarded Nobel Peace Prize
1995	Prime minister Yitzhak Rabin assassinated
1998 2000	Israel celebrates its 50th anniversary Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon 2nd round violent intifada
The Memorial Day (2001) in Gan Shmuel The Memorial Corner in the Dining-Hall and the Opening Ceremony Memorizing the Gan Shmuel Sons and Members that Died in the Battlefields The Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) 2001 At the Dining-Hall entrance. Poster announcement of The Independence Day Celebration in the kibbutz Gan Shmuel. At Evening, Celebrating The Opening of the Independance Day The Independence Day PIKNIK