Lesson 3/55 min
Israel
Basics
- A West Asian state on the south-east coast of the Mediterranean. Five neighbours: Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria.
- The only Jewish-majority state; currency the shekel; legislature the Knesset.
- Capital: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1980; the UN and most states do not accept it. Khandokar gives Tel Aviv, Zubair gives Jerusalem.
- Language: Hebrew is the official language, Arabic has a special status (Zubair: “Hebrew and Arabic”; the exam answer is Hebrew). On 19 July 2018 the Knesset passed the ‘Nation-State of the Jewish People’ law by 62–55.
- A UN member since 1949 (the 59th). The Likud party is Israeli (DU question). Iron Dome is Israel's missile-defence system (Rajshahi University question).
- Bangladesh has no diplomatic or trade relations with Israel, and Bangladeshi passports bar travel to Israel (Khandokar). Exam: “With which country does Bangladesh have no trade relations?” – Israel.
The birth of the state
| When | Event |
|---|---|
| 1896 | Theodor Herzl (Hungarian-born) calls for a separate Jewish state; he is the founder of Zionism and the ‘dreamer of the state’ |
| 2 November 1917 | The Balfour Declaration: Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour writes to Lord Rothschild; a pledge of a Jewish national home in Palestine; published on 9 November |
| 1920 – 1948 | The British Mandate in Palestine |
| 14 May 1948 | David Ben-Gurion declares Israel's independence. Chaim Weizmann becomes the first president (Zubair wrongly names him as the one who declared it) |
Arab–Israeli wars (four in the books)
| War | Sides | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Israel versus Arab states | Palestinians displaced (the Nakba); the start of UN peacekeeping missions; the armistice border called the Green Line |
| 1956 | Israel versus Egypt | Israel takes Sinai; the Suez crisis |
| 1967 (Six-Day War) | Israel versus Arab states | Israel takes the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai, Sharm el-Sheikh, the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem (East Jerusalem: 23rd and 26th BCS) |
| 1973 | Israel versus Egypt and Syria | The Arab oil embargo (17 October 1973); the war began on 6 October (the books list “Syria, Jordan” as the sides, 18 days) |
Camp David and peace
- The Camp David accords of 1978, in Maryland: Anwar Sadat for Egypt, Menachem Begin for Israel (Zubair), mediated by US President Jimmy Carter. The Egypt–Israel peace treaty followed on 26 March 1979.
- As a result Egypt was expelled from the Arab League and the OIC (Khandokar).
- Egypt and Jordan have full diplomatic ties with Israel (44th BCS).
- Later, in 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed the ‘Abraham Accords’ (not in the books).
Recognition of Israel
| Who | Detail |
|---|---|
| United States | 14 May 1948 – the exam answer for “first recognition”; the Soviet Union second (Zubair) |
| Türkiye | The first Muslim-majority country, 28 March 1949. Zubair's answer key says Egypt, but the same book's correction says the real answer is Türkiye |
| Egypt | The first Arab country (1979) |
| Jordan | 1994 |
Iron Dome
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What | An Israeli short-range surface-to-air missile defence system; Hebrew name Kippat Barzel (“iron dome”) |
| Purpose | To stop rockets and artillery shells; the interceptor is called Tamir; range about 4–70 km (the book also prints 70–250 elsewhere) |
| Makers | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems; the United States helped with funding and technology |
Did you know?: After Israel's 27 October 2026 election no bloc reached 61 seats: reports say Netanyahu's bloc won 53, the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot 48 and Arab-led parties 19. Netanyahu is caretaker prime minister and President Herzog has opened talks on forming a government (November 2026). The picture may change.
Check yourself
Who declared Israel's independence, and when?
At a glance
- 1
The Balfour Declaration is dated 2 November 1917; Israel's independence was declared on 14 May 1948 (Ben-Gurion).
- 2
Herzl was the founder of Zionism (1896); UN member in 1949, the 59th.
- 3
The Six-Day War of 1967: East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai and the Golan taken.
- 4
Camp David 1978 (Sadat, Begin, Carter); the Egypt–Israel peace treaty on 26 March 1979; full ties: Egypt and Jordan.
- 5
The first recognition was by the US (the exam answer); the first Muslim-majority country was Türkiye; five neighbours.
- 6
Iron Dome is Israel's missile defence; Bangladesh has no ties with Israel.