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The Holocaust/Shoah
The most horrific (intentional event) in recent human history. -
Formation of the Haganah
The Haganah was semi-self defence force and semi-guerilla force, founded after anti-Semitic riots circa 1936. They existed until 1948, and even attacked both Vichy French and British troops to steal weapons and supplies for the hopeful liberation of Israel, no matter who owned Israel at the time. -
Formation of Jewish Brigade
The Jewish Brigade was part of the British military, made of Palestinian Jews and commanded by Anglo-Jewish officers. Members formed the eventual core of the semi-professional Israeli army during the 1948 war. -
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1948 Arab-Israeli Conflict
The war sparked from the partition of Palestine, this results in a larger Jewish state of Israel than first intended. -
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Suez Crisis
An invasion by Israel, supported by France and the UK, to retake the Suez Canal and reopen it. -
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Six Day War
Six Days in June - where Israel struck first before all of her neighbors could, decimating their militaries and expanding to thrice her size (primarily due to the Sinai) -
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Yom Kippur War
This war, started on the holiest day of the Jewish year, led to a shift in the balance of power. Though Israel survived the war and managed to defeat the attacks by Egypt and Syria, it restored Egyptian confidence. -
Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty
Both countries recognised each other and ended the state of war that had technically been in place since 1948 with each other. Israeli ships could freely go through the Suez Canal, Strait of Tiran, and Gulf of Aqaba; Israeli's soldiers withdrew from the Sinai Desert and ceded it back to Egypt. -
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Lebanon War
The Israeli Defence Force invaded Southern Lebanon after an assassination attempt on the Israeli ambassador to the UK. -
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First Intifada
Palestinian terrorism in response to heavy-handed Israeli reprisal and forceful razing of villages and settlements. -
Wadi Araba Treaty
Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty on this date, recognising each other as countries and ending the state of war that had existed since 1948. -
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Second Intifada
Another heavy handed reprisal operation by the IDF in response to Palestinian terrorist attacks. -
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July War
2006 Lebanon War. My father was in Israel at this time and a rocket hit his kibbutz' chicken coop. "We were picking shrapnel out of our schnitzel for weeks," is his favourite joke. -
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Gaza War (2014)
I was in Israel for this. This is when we learned I needed hearing aids, because I didn't hear the air raid sirens three times. While in Tel Aviv I had to take cover during a missile attack, and watched Iron Dome intercept rockets while I was in Ben-Gurion International Airport