Historical Facts about Israel

Here are 10 interesting historical facts about the modern state of Israel. Of course, there are many more wonderful things to learn!

1. On 14 May 1948, 5 Iyar 5708, David Ben-Gurion, the Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization and Israel’s first Prime Minister, declared the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Israel, known as the State of Israel.

2. May 26, 1948, only twelve days after Israel declared her statehood the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was established.

3. Israel is located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan and the West Bank in the east, Egypt and the Gaza Strip on the southwest, and the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea to the south.

4. Hatikvah, which means the hope, is the national anthem of the state of Israel. Hatikvah has been written by Naphtali Herz Imber, a Jew who emigrated from the Ukraine. The lyrics reflect the 2000 years hope of the Jewish people to return to the promised land- the Land Of Israel.

5. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and one of the oldest cities in the world. Jerusalem is Holy to the 3 major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. However, while Jerusalem was Israel’s capital city, Israelis were not permitted to enter the Temple Mount and Western Wall, until on June 7, 1967, IDF paratroopers captured through the Old City, bringing Jerusalem’s Holiest site under Jewish control for the first time in 2000 years.

6. Jerusalem has a population of 763,800. Overall, Israel has a total population of 7,859,300.

7. In 1969, Golda Meir was elected Prime Minister of Israel. She became Israel’s first elected female leader and the world’s second elected female leader in modern times.

8. Although Israel is a very small country, when it comes to Nobel Prize winners, it has an impressive showing: 10 winners in its 64 year History. In 1966, Shai Agnon was the first Israeli to win a Nobel Prize in Literature.

9. The lowest place on earth is in Israel: The Dead Sea. Its surface and shores are 423 meters below sea level. The Dead Sea was created by the great Syrian-African geological rift almost 1.64 million years ago.

10. The flag of Israel was chosen in 1948, only 5 months after the state was established. The flag includes two blue stripes on white background with a Shield of David in the center. The chosen colors blue & white symbolize trust and honesty.

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