Posts Tagged ‘Knesset’
Today in Israeli History: January 23, 1950 — Knesset Declares Jerusalem the Capital
The Knesset votes 60-2 to adopt a Cabinet-drafted resolution declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Members of the left-wing Mapam and the right-wing Herut abstain. Herut fails in a bid to amend the resolution to explicitly declare all of Jerusalem as the capital, despite the occupation of the half the city by Transjordan. Two Communist…
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Today in Israeli History: Jan. 22, 2013 — 19th Knesset Elected
After the dissolution of the Knesset over a budget dispute in October, Israel holds early elections for the 19th Knesset. The results enable Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remain in power, but he needs eight weeks to form a government because of the loss of legislative seats among right-wing parties. Netanyahu’s Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu,…
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Knesset Votes in Favor of Golan Heights Law
December 14, 1981 From the Center for Israel Education In a quickly organized and somewhat surprising move, the Knesset votes to annex the Golan Heights by a vote of 63-21. Prime Minister Menachem Begin, who had been discharged from the hospital the day before following surgery to repair a broken hip, was brought to the…
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Hausner Requests Death Penalty for Adolf Eichmann
December 13, 1961 From the Center for Israel Education On May 11, 1960, Israeli Security Service members captured Adolf Eichmann, an architect of the Nazi Final Solution. He was living under the assumed identity of Ricardo Klement in Argentina. On May 23, 1960, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion announced Eichmann’s capture to the Knesset stating, “Adolf…
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Yitzhak Ben-Zvi Is Inaugurated as Israel’s Second President
December 10, 1952 From the Center for Israel Education At the end of the traditional thirty-day mourning period for Israel’s first President Chaim Weizmann, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi is inaugurated as Israel’s President in a Knesset ceremony. Ben-Zvi, then 68, was elected by the Knesset on December 8th on the third ballot of voting receiving sixty-two votes…
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Shmuel Katz Is Born
December 9, 1914 From the Center for Israel Education Shmuel Katz, a leader of Revisionist Zionism and a founder of the Herut Party in Israel is born in Johannesburg, South Africa. As a young man in South Africa, Katz attended a speech by Ze’ev Jabotinsky, the leader of Revisionist Zionism and was greatly moved by…
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Joseph Sprinzak Is Born
December 8, 1885 From the Center for Israel Education Joseph Sprinzak, who would serve as the first Speaker of the Knesset and twice as Interim President, is born in Moscow, Russia. His family was forced to leave Moscow, when Jews were expelled in 1891, eventually settling in Warsaw. Sprinzak’s father was an active Zionist and…
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NCJW Efforts
Helping Israeli women thrive. Shari S. Cohen Contributing Writer Israeli women have diverse religious beliefs, ethnic backgrounds and educational levels, but they increasingly share a common goal — achieving a greater voice in society. Dina B. Charnin, director of the National Council of Jewish Women’s Israel Policy and Programs, visited Michigan recently to update NCJW…
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Shinui Party Leaves Government
December 4, 2004 From the Center for Israel Education Led by Israeli television personality Tommy Lapid, Shinui,(change), won fifteen seats in the 2003 Israeli election. It became the third largest party in the Knesset. As a result of their election victory, the secular, liberal party was invited to be a part of Prime Minister Ariel…
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Carmel Forest Fire
December 2, 2010 From the Center for Israel Education The deadliest forest fire in Israel’s history broke out on the Carmel Mountain Range near the city of Haifa. The fire spread rapidly, burning for four days and consumed over 8,000 acres. It claimed the lives of forty-four people, severely damaged homes and property, and consumed…
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