1972

Eleven Israeli athletes massacred at the Munich Olympic Games, which carry on.

1973

          The Yom Kippur War - October 6-24, 1973

In the years following the Six Day War, all sectors of the economy prospered and flourished. During  this period Israel consolidated her position in the world, although the Arab nations refused to accept the new reality. The armies of Egypt and Jordan embarked on a war of attrition. Frequent attempts were made to infiltrate the borders and penetrate IDF positions and there were many incidents when shots were fired at Israeli soldiers. The war of attrition lasted for 17 months. During this time 721 Israelis were killed, 594 of them soldiers.

The Arab states continued to reequip their armies and train their soldiers. Gamal Abdel Nasser died in Egypt, and was succeeded by Anwar Sadat. On October 6, 1973 (Yom Kippur 5734) war broke out, when Egypt and Syria attacked Israel. Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan declared that “...the Third Temple (the third commonwealth of Jewish sovereignty) is in danger.”

The Egyptian forces broke through the fortification line on the Suez Canal and overran the Sinai Peninsula. At the same time, the Syrians pushed towards the Golan Heights in an attempt to penetrate  the valley and drive a wedge into Israel. Since warning signs had been ignored or misinterpreted, Israel was totally surprised by the onslaught. The country was unprepared, in the midst of observing Yom Kippur. The army swiftly regrouped and mobilized reserve forces, while the soldiers in the front lines struggled to hold back the onslaught. Militarily the outcome of the war was a victory for the Israeli forces. Under adverse conditions they succeeded in seizing the initiative and pushing the battle into enemy territory. At the war’s end the IDF were poised 40 kilometers (28 miles) from Damascus in the north, and beyond the western bank of the Suez Canal on the road to Cairo in the south. In addition, the Israeli army succeeded in encircling and cutting off Egypt’s Third Army in Sinai.

The war ended on October 24, but the IDF’s regular and reserve soldiers were confined to their outposts for many more months. The Yom Kippur war took a very heavy toll: 2569 soldiers fell in battle and more than 300 were taken prisoner.

After the cease fire took effect, further negotiations culminated in the signing of separation agreements. Israel withdrew from the areas captured during the war and arrangements were made for  the separation of forces on both sides of the border. Territory held by Israel prior to the outbreak of the war was transferred to UN forces stationed in the separation zones.

The war created a great rift among the people. Confidence in the army’s intelligence-gathering ability was severely shaken. Accusations were leveled at many leaders in the political and military fields, revealing grave defects and dividing the nation. A process of sober thought followed the sense of elation and euphoria engendered by the Six Day War. From the political point of view, the war brought about a transfer of power in Israel. In 1977, for the first time in the history of the State, the Likud party rose to power and the Labour party sat in opposition.

Soviet airlifts to Egypt and Syria; American air lift to Israel. Leads to: UN Resolution 338; Arab oil boycott; Geneva Conference.

1975

The UN General Assembly passes a resolution equating Zionism with racism [rescinded De. 1991].

Lebanese Civil War

1976

Record year of aliya from the USSR.

The Entebbe Operation by the IDF saves the endangered Jewish hostages and crew of an Air France plane hijacked by Palestinian and Bader Meinhof terrorists to Uganda, aided by the infamous Idi Amin.

1977

General Elections in Israel. Likud comes to power, led by Menachem Begin.

Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat visits Jerusalem, speaks to the Knesset.

1978

Sadat and Begin awarded Nobel Peace Prize.

1979

Israel returns the Sinai peninsula to Egypt

Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel signed at the White House.

The Yom Kippur War changed fundamental attitudes in Israel. For the first time there was talk of the  very real need to stop the circle of enmity and sit together around one table in order to reach a solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict. Menahem Begin, as head of Likud, began to explore possibilities for peace. In a surprising, courageous and unprecedented step, Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt, visited Israel in November 1977. Prime Minister Menahem Begin invited him to address the Knesset, and from the podium President Sadat declared: “No more war, no more bloodshed.” The peace talks were conducted at Camp David, in the United States, under the patronage of President Jimmy Carter. The talks culminated in the signing of a peace treaty in 1979 between Israel and Egypt, the largest of the Arab states.

Under the terms of the peace treaty, both countries agreed to cease all hostile activity. Israel would  withdraw to the pre-1967 border and a permanent international border would be established between the two countries. Furthermore, a process of normalization would be initiated: exchange of diplomatic representatives and mutual agreements in the areas of trade, economy, tourism and mail. The Sinai Peninsula would be demilitarized. Since the signing of the treaty Egypt has stood by its commitments, although President Sadat was assassinated by Muslim zealots. The pursuit of peace cost him his life.

Both Menahem Begin and Anwar Sadat won international recognition for their efforts and they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

1980

Jerusalem Law passed - Basic Law.

1981

Israel's air Force destroys Iraq's nuclear reactor, Osirak.

President Sadat of Egypt assassinated.

Israel's General elections again provide Likud [Begin] with a parliamentary majority.