1997 in Israel
Encyclopedia
Incumbents
- Prime Minister of IsraelPrime Minister of IsraelThe Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
- Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuBenjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
(LikudLikudLikud is the major center-right political party in Israel. It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin in an alliance with several right-wing and liberal parties. Likud's victory in the 1977 elections was a major turning point in the country's political history, marking the first time the left had...
) - President of IsraelPresident of IsraelThe President of the State of Israel is the head of state of Israel. The position is largely an apolitical ceremonial figurehead role, with the real executive power lying in the hands of the Prime Minister. The current president is Shimon Peres who took office on 15 July 2007...
- Ezer WeizmanEzer Weizman' was the seventh President of Israel, first elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1998. Before the presidency, Weizman was commander of the Israeli Air Force and Minister of Defense.-Biography:... - Chief of General Staff - Amnon Lipkin-ShahakAmnon Lipkin-ShahakAmnon Lipkin-Shahak is a former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Member of the Knesset andMinister of Transportation and Tourism.-Military service:Lipkin-Shahak started his military service as a teenager in the military boarding-school in Haifa...
- Government of Israel - 27th Government of IsraelTwenty-seventh government of IsraelThe twenty-seventh government of Israel was formed by Binyamin Netanyahu of Likud on 18 June 1996. Although his Likud-Gesher-Tzomet alliance won fewer seats that the Labor Party, Netanyahu formed the government after winning the country's first ever direct election for Prime Minister, narrowly...
Events
- February 4 - 1997 Israeli helicopter disaster1997 Israeli helicopter disasterThe 1997 Israeli helicopter disaster occurred on 4 February 1997. 73 IDF soldiers were killed when two Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion Yas'ur 2000 helicopters, 357 and 903, collided over She'ar Yashuv in northern Israel. The helicopters were supposed to have crossed the border into Israel's "security...
: Two IAFIAFIAF may refer to the following air forces:* Indian Air Force* Indonesian Air Force* Iraqi Air Force* Israeli Air Force* Italian Air ForceIAF may also refer to:* International of Anarchist Federations* Indian Armed Forces...
troop-transport CH-53 Sea StallionCH-53 Sea StallionThe CH-53 Sea Stallion is the most common name for the Sikorsky S-65 family of heavy-lift transport helicopters. Originally developed for use by the United States Marine Corps, it is also in service with Germany, Iran, Israel, and Mexico...
helicopterHelicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s collide in darkness near the remote She'ar YashuvShe'ar YashuvShe'ar Yashuv is a workers' moshav in the Upper Galilee in the northeastern Hula Valley in northern Israel. It belongs to the Mevo'ot HaHermon Regional Council....
kibbutz, in northern Israel, killing 77 IDFIsrael Defense ForcesThe Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
soldiers. - March 13 - Island of Peace massacreIsland of Peace massacreThe Island of Peace massacre was a Mass murder attack that occurred at the Island of Peace site in Naharayim on March 13, 1997 in which a Jordanian soldier opened fire at a large group of Israeli schoolgirls from the AMIT Fuerst School in Beit Shemesh who were on a class field trip, killing seven...
: Seven 11 year-old girls from Beit Shemesh's Feurst School are killed and many other are severely injured by a JordanJordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian soldier, who opened fire on the schoolchildren while they were on a class trip at the "Island of PeacePeace IslandThe Island of Peace is an Israeli-Jordanian park at the confluence of the Jordan River and Yarmouk River, on the border between Israel and Jordan....
", a joint Israeli and Jordanian tourist resort, under Jordanian rule. - July - The 1997 Maccabiah Games1997 Maccabiah GamesThe 1997 Maccabiah Games are remembered for being marred by a bridge collapse that killed several participants.The 15th Maccabiah had more than 5,000 athletes from 53 countries competing in 36 sports....
are held. - July 14 - Maccabiah bridge collapseMaccabiah bridge collapseThe Maccabiah bridge collapse was the catastrophic failure of a pedestrian bridge over the Yarkon River in Tel Aviv, Israel on July 14, 1997. The collapse of the temporary wooden structure killed four and injured 60 Australian athletes who were visiting Israel to participate in the Maccabiah Games...
- A pedestrian bridge collapses over the Yarkon River killing four and injuring 60 Australian athletes who are visiting Israel to participate in the Maccabiah GamesMaccabiah GamesThe Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
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Israeli–Palestinian conflict
The most prominent events related to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict which occurred during 1997 include:- January 14 - The government of Israel approves the Hebron AgreementProtocol Concerning the Redeployment in HebronProtocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron, also known as The Hebron Protocol or Hebron Agreement, began January 7 and was concluded from January 15 to January 17, 1997 between Israel, represented by Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Palestine Liberation Organization ,...
. - January 16 - The KnessetKnessetThe Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
approves the Hebron AgreementProtocol Concerning the Redeployment in HebronProtocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron, also known as The Hebron Protocol or Hebron Agreement, began January 7 and was concluded from January 15 to January 17, 1997 between Israel, represented by Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Palestine Liberation Organization ,...
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Notable Palestinian militant operations against Israeli targets
The most prominent Palestinian militant acts and operations
Palestinian political violence
Palestinian political violence refers to acts of violence undertaken to further the Palestinian cause. These political objectives include self-determination in and sovereignty over Palestine, the liberation of Palestine and establishment of a Palestinian state, either in place of both Israel and...
committed against Israeli targets during 1997 include:
- March 21 - Café Apropo bombingCafé Apropo bombingThe Café Apropo bombing was a Palestinian suicide bombing which occurred on March 21, 1997 in a coffee shop in Tel Aviv. 3 women were killed in the attack and 48 were injured.-The attack:...
: A Palestinian Arab suicide bomber kills three and injures 49 in a coffee shopCoffeehouseA coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages. It shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant, but it is different from a cafeteria. As the name suggests, coffeehouses focus on...
in Tel AvivTel AvivTel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. - July 30 - 1997 Mahane Yehuda Market Bombings1997 Mahane Yehuda Market BombingsThe 1997 Mahane Yehuda Market Bombings were two consecutive suicide bombings which occurred on July 30, 1997 in the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem which is Jerusalem's main fruit and vegetable market. The site of the attack was chosen in order to cause maximum number of casualties...
: 16 Israelis are killed and 178 wounded in two consecutive suicide bombings in the Mahane Yehuda MarketMahane Yehuda MarketMahane Yehuda Market , often referred to as "The Shuk", is an outdoor marketplace in Jerusalem, Israel. Popular with locals and tourists alike, the market's more than 250 vendors sell fresh fruits and vegetables; baked goods; fish, meat and cheeses; nuts, seeds, and spices; wines and liquors;...
in Jerusalem. - September 4 - Ben Yehuda Street Bombing: Three HamasHamasHamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
suicide bombersSuicide BombersSuicide Bombers is the name of a 2005 EP by Leæther Strip. For the Australian hardcore band see Suicide Bombers -Track listing:# Suicide Bombers# Suicide Bombers # The Shame Of A Nation # This Is Where I Wanna Be...
simultaneously blow themselves up on the Ben Yehuda Street pedestrian mall in Jerusalem, killing five Israelis. The bombing was carried out by Palestinian Arabs from the village of Asira ash-ShamaliyaAsira ash-ShamaliyaAsira ash-Shamaliya is a Palestinian town in the Nablus Governorate, located six kilometers north of Nablus in the northern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of approximately 7,556 inhabitants in 2007.In Arabic, the word Asira means...
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Notable Israeli military operations against Palestinian militancy targets
The most prominent Israeli military counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
operations (military campaign
Military campaign
In the military sciences, the term military campaign applies to large scale, long duration, significant military strategy plan incorporating a series of inter-related military operations or battles forming a distinct part of a larger conflict often called a war...
s and military operations) carried out against Palestinian militants during 1997 include:
- September 25 – Khaled Mashal assassination attempt: Two MossadMossadThe Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
agents attempted to assassinate Khaled MashalKhaled MashalKhaled Mashal, also known as Khaled Mashaal, Khaled Meshaal, and Khalid Mish'al, has been the main leader of Hamas since the assassination of Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi in 2004. In addition, Mashal heads the Syrian branch of the political bureau of Hamas.Mashal was born in Silwad, a village north of...
, the HamasHamasHamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
' Jordanian branch chief, in Jordan by injecting him a toxin in his ear. The operation failed after the Jordanian authorities managed to apprehend the two MossadMossadThe Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
agents and later on, in exchange for their release, an Israeli physician had to fly to AmmanAmmanAmman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
and administer an antidote to Mashal. The fall out from the failed assassination eventually led to the release of Sheik Ahmed YassinAhmed YassinSheikh Ahmed Ismail Hassan Yassin was a founder of Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian paramilitary organization and political party. Yassin also served as the spiritual leader of the organization...
, the founder and spiritual leader of the Hamas movement, and scores of Hamas prisoners.
Notable deaths
- April 4 – Leo PicardLeo PicardLeo Picard, also known as Yehudah Leo Picard , was an Israeli geologist and an expert in the field of hydrology.-Biography:Picard was born in Germany in 1900, and studied at universities in Freiberg and Berlin, in Germany, and in Paris and London, and taught at the University of Florence,...
(b. 19001900 in Germany-National level:* Kaiser - Wilhelm II* Chancellor - Chlodwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst to 17 October, then Bernhard von Bülow-Kingdoms:* King of Bavaria - Otto of Bavaria* King of Prussia - Kaiser Wilhelm II* King of Saxony - Albert of Saxony...
), German-born Israeli geologist and an expert in the field of hydrology. - April 12 – Nechama LeibowitzNechama LeibowitzNechama Leibowitz was a noted Israeli Bible scholar and commentator who rekindled interest in Bible study.-Biography:Nechama Leibowitz was born to an Orthodox Jewish family in Riga two years after her elder brother, the philosopher Yeshayahu Leibowitz. The family moved to Berlin in 1919...
(b. 1905), Russian (Latvia)-born Israeli Bible scholar. - April 17 – Chaim HerzogChaim HerzogChaim Herzog served as the sixth President of Israel , following a distinguished career in both the British Army and the Israel Defense Forces .-Early life:...
(b. 19181918 in the United KingdomEvents from the year 1918 in the United Kingdom. This year sees the end of World War I after four years, which Britain and its allies won, and a major advance in women's suffrage.-Incumbents:*Monarch - King George V...
), British-born Israeli politician, the sixth president of Israel. - October 1 – Inbal Perlmutter (b. 19711971 in Israel-Incumbents:* Prime Minister of Israel – Golda Meir * President of Israel – Zalman Shazar* Chief of General Staff - Haim Bar-Lev* Government of Israel - 15th Government of Israel-Events:...
), Israeli musician. - December 2 – Anat ElimelechAnat ElimelechAnat Elimelech was an Israeli actress and model who played in commercials and television shows for children.In 1997, Elimelech was murdered by her boyfriend, David Afuta, who then committed suicide....
(b. 19741974 in Israel-Incumbents:* Prime Minister of Israel – Golda Meir until June 3, Yitzhak Rabin * President of Israel – Ephraim Katzir* Chief of General Staff - David Elazar until April 3, Mordechai Gur...
), Israeli actress and model - December 17 – Uzi NarkissUzi NarkissUzi Narkiss was an Israeli general. Narkiss was commander of the Israel Defense Forces units in the Central Region during the Six Day War...
(b. 19251925 in the British Mandate of PalestineEvents in the year 1925 in the British Mandate of Palestine.-Incumbents:* High Commissioner - Sir Herbert Louis Samuel until 30 June; Herbert Onslow Plumer* Emir of Transjordan - Abdullah I bin al-Hussein...
), distinguished Israeli nuclear physicist.
See also
- 1997 in Israeli film1997 in Israeli filmA list of films produced by the Israeli film industry in 1997.-Unknown premiere date:-External links:* at the Internet Movie Database...
- 1997 in Israeli television
- 1997 in Israeli music
- 1997 in Israeli sport