ADL Celebrates Israel
ADL looks back with pride on our long time support for the Jewish state, and remains committed to working towards a secure, peaceful, Jewish and democratic state. We are inspired by what Israel has built and accomplished, including:
- A society committed to fostering Jewish and democratic principles and institutions;
- A diverse community comprised of immigrants from around the globe;
- A standard of innovation in technology, science, medicine, agriculture and ecology that is admired around of the world.
We honor and affirm the values laid out in Israel’s founding Declaration of Independence, of Jewish nationhood, freedom, justice, equality and the pursuit of peace.
From ADL's Archives
1951: David Ben-Gurion Meets ADL Leaders
Israel’s first prime minister expresses appreciation to ADL for its work in educating Americans about Israel.
1953: Passover in Israel with Ben-Gurion
ADL National Director Ben Epstein recounts his conversations with Ben-Gurion on Israel, anti-Semitism and American Jewry during a Passover trip to Israel.
1967: ADL Examines the Six Day War
ADL looks at different aspects of the conflict — from the military battle and the superpower dynamics on the ground to anti-Israel mobilization and protests in the U.S.
1979: ADL at Historic Israel-Egypt Signing
ADL reports from the historic White House signing and side meetings with leaders, along with perspectives on what the first Israeli-Arab peace agreement means.
1993: ADL on the Israeli-Palestinian Agreement
ADL reports from and offers perspective on the White House signing of the Israel-Palestinian Declaration of Principles.
Key Facts About Israel
Flag: The colors blue and white were chosen according to the colors of the "Tallit" — the Jewish prayer shawl.
The Balfour Declaration
The Balfour Declaration is the letter of November 2, 1917 from British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to Zionist leader Baron Rothschild which expressed the British government's support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.
United Nations Partition Plan 1947 (UN Resolution
Following the British announcement that it would end its authority over Palestine, the question of sovereignty was considered by a United Nations Special Committee.
Founding of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948
Israel's establishment as an independent, sovereign state was officially declared in Tel-Aviv on Friday, May 14, 1948 by Zionist leader David Ben-Gurion.
War of Independence 1948-1949
On May 15, the day after the establishment of the State of Israel, the Arab armies of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon invaded the new state.
Arab Economic Boycott
The Arab Economic Boycott was initiated in 1946 by the newly formed League of Arab States. The boycott was aimed at preventing the continued growth of the Jewish community in Mandate-era Palestine by boycotting the goods and services produced by Jewish businesses.
Six-Day War
In May 1967, events in the region led Israel to expect that an Arab attack was imminent.
Yom Kippur War 1973
On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria attacked Israel in an effort to force Israel to surrender the land gained in 1967. The attack was on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
Camp David Accords/Israel-Egypt Peace Agreement
The Israel-Egypt peace agreement was a watershed event and marked the first such agreement between the Jewish state and an Arab state.
Israel-Lebanon Wars
There have been two major wars between Israel and Lebanon in 1982 and 2006.
The Intifada 1987-1990
In December 1987, collective Palestinian frustration erupted in the popular uprising against Israeli rule known as the Intifada, or "shaking off."
The Oslo Accords/Oslo Process
The "Oslo Process" refers to the Israeli-Palestinian negotiating process begun in September 1993 which established a framework for resolving conflict.
The Second Intifada 2000
Widespread Palestinian violence erupted on Friday, September 29, 2000 in the Old City of Jerusalem and in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israel's Conflicts in Gaza - 2008/2012/2014
Since Hamas forcibly took over Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2007, the terrorist organization has repeatedly attacked Israeli cities and towns.