75: Israel

2023 Israel celebrates 75 years of Independence!

Israel was part of the Roman Empire from 37 BC to 324 AD.

Israel was part of the Byzantine Empire from 324 to 638.

Israel was part of the Arab Caliphate Muslim Period from 638 to 1099.

Israel was part of the Crusader Christian Period from 1099 to 1260.

Israel was part of the Mamluk Muslim Period from 1260 to 1517.

Israel was part of the Ottoman Muslim Empire from 1517 to 1917.

Israel was part of the British Empire (a Mandate) from 1917-1948.

 

From the moment Israel declared independence in 1948 (75 years ago) it was attacked from all sides (land, sea and air) and has stayed that way for nearly all 75 years.

 

War of Independence (1947-1948) Israel against Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, the Arab Liberation Army and the Holy War Army. Israeli Victory.

4,074 Israeli Soldiers killed and 2,000 Israeli Civilians killed.

15,000 Arab Soldiers and Civilians killed.

 

Sinai War (1956) Israel, the United Kingdom and France against Egypt. Israeli Victory.

231 Israeli Soldiers killed. 0 Israeli Civilians killed.

3,000 Egyptian Soldiers killed. 1,000 Egyptian Civilians killed.

 

Six Day War (1967) Israel against Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq. Israeli Victory.

776 Israel Soldiers killed. 20 Israeli Civilians killed.

15,000 Egyptian Soldiers killed. 700 Jordanian Soldiers killed. 2,500 Syrian Soldiers killed. 10 Iraqi Soldiers killed.

 

War of Attrition (1967-1970) Israel against Egypt, the Soviet Union, the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Jordan. Israeli Victory.

1.425 Israeli Soldiers killed. 227 Israeli Civilians killed.

10,000 Egyptian Soldiers and Civilians killed. 1,828 PLO killed. 300 Jordanian Soldiers killed. 58 Soviet Soldiers killed. 180 Cuban Soldiers killed. 500 Syrian Soldiers killed.

 

Yom Kippur War (1973) Israel against Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Algeria, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. Israeli Victory.

2,688 Israeli Soldiers killed. 0 Israeli Civilians killed.

15,000 Egyptian Soldiers killed. 3,500 Syrian Soldiers killed. 500 Moroccan Soldiers killed. 278 Iraqi Soldiers killed. 180 Cuban Soldiers killed. 23 Jordanian Soldiers killed.

 

Operation Litani (1978) Israel against the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Israeli Victory.

18 Israeli Soldiers killed. 0 Israeli Civilians killed.

550 PLO Killed.

 

First Lebanon War (1982-1985) Israel against the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Syria and  the Lebanese Liberation Front.  Tactical Israeli Victory.

657 Israeli Soldiers killed. 3 Israeli Civilians killed.

2,400 PLO killed. 1,200 Syrian Soldiers killed.

 

Security Zone Campaign (1985-2000) Israel against Hezbollah and the Lebanese Liberation Front. Tactical Israeli Defeat.

559 Israeli Soldiers killed. 7 Israeli Civilians killed.

1,276 Hezbollah killed. 270 Lebanese Civilians killed.

 

First Intifada (1987-1993) Israel against Hamas. Tactical Israeli Victory.

60 Israeli Soldiers killed. 100 Israeli Civilians killed.

1,603 Hamas and PLO killed.

 

Second Intifada (2000-2005) Israel against Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Israeli Victory.

301 Israeli Soldiers killed. 773 Israeli Civilians killed.

3,168 Hamas, PLO and Palestinians killed. 406 Palestinians killed by Hamas and PLO. 45 Foreigners killed by Hamas and PLO.

 

Second Lebanese War (2006) Israel against Hezbollah. Stalemate.

121 Israeli Soldiers killed. 44 Israeli Civilians killed.

600 Hezbollah killed.  1,191 Lebanese Civilians killed. 51 Foreigners killed by Hezbollah. 5 UN Soldiers killed by Hezbollah.

 

Operation Cast Lead (2008-2009) Israel against Hamas. Israeli Victory.

10 Israeli Soldiers killed. 3 Israeli Civilians killed.

700 Hamas killed. 926 Palestinian Civilians killed.

 

Operation Pillar of Defense (2012) Israel against Hamas. Israeli Victory.

2 Israeli Soldiers killed. 4 Israeli Civilians killed.

120 Hamas killed. 105 Palestinian Civilians killed.

 

Operation Protective Edge (2014) Israel against Hamas. Israeli Victory.

67 Israeli Soldiers Killed. 6 Israeli Civilians killed.

2,251 Hamas and Palestinian Civilians killed.  23 Palestinian Civilians killed by Hamas.

 

Israeli-Palestinian Crisis (2021) Israel against Hamas. Israeli Victory.

1 Israeli Solider Killed. 12 Israeli Civilians killed.

200 Hamas killed. 256 Palestinian Civilians in Gaza killed. 28 Palestinian Civilians in the West Bank killed.

 

Ever since 1948 Israel has known that they can lose a battle, but can never lose a war otherwise Israel will be destroyed and the Israeli Jews “pushed into the sea.”

Israel has diplomatic relations with 165 of the 193 UN Member Countries.

 

Countries that have never recognized Israel and don’t accept Israeli Passports: Algeria, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen.

 

Countries that used to recognize Israel, but no longer does and currently doesn’t accept Israeli Passports: Cuba (from 1949-1973), Iran (from 1950-1979), Maldives (from 1964-1974), Mauritania (from 1999-2009), Niger (1948-1973), Oman (from 1996-2000), Qatar (from 1996-2000) and Tunisia (from 1996-2000),  

Countries that didn’t recognize Israel, but currently do and does accept Israeli Passports: Bahrain (from 1948-2020), Benin (from 1973-1992), Albania (from 1948-1991), Bolivia (from 2009-2019), Botswana (from 1973-1993), Bulgaria (from 1967-1990), Burundi (from 1973-1995), Cambodia (from 1975-1993), Cameron (from 1973-1986), Central African Republic (from 1973-1991), Chad (from 1972-2019), China (from 1949-1992), Former Czechoslovakia  (from 1967-1990), Democratic Republic of the Congo (from 1973-1982), Egypt (from 1948-1979), Equatorial Guinea (from 1973-1994), Ethiopia (from 1973-1989), Gabon (from 1973-1993), Gambia (from 1993-1992), Former East Germany (from 1949-1990), Former West Germany (from 1948-1952), Ghana (from 1973-1994), Guinea (from 1967-2016), Guyana (from 1974-1992), Hungary (from 1967-1989), Ivory Coast (from 1973-1986), Jordan (1948-1994), Kenya (from 1973-1988), Laos (from 1973-1993), Liberia (from 1973-1983), Madagascar (from 1973-1994), Mauritius (from 1976-1993), Morocco (from 1948-1994 and from 2000-2020), Nicaragua (from 2010-2017), Nigeria (from 1973-1992), Poland (from 1967-1990), Republic of the Congo (from 1972-1991), Former Soviet Union (1967-1991), Rwanda (from 1973-1994), Senegal (from 1973-1994), Sierra Leone (from 1973-1992), Spain (from 1948-1986), Sudan (from 1948-2020), Tanzania (from 1973-1995), Togo (from 1973-1987), Turkey (from 2011-2016), Uganda (from 1972-1994), United Araba Emirates (from 1948-2020), Zambia (from 1973-1991) and Vatican City (from 1948-1994.)

 

Countries that don’t let Foreign Passports with an Israeli Immigration Stamps in them enter: Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Syria and Yemen.  

Note: Since 2013, Israel no longer stamps Immigration Stamps into Passports. Instead you get an separate Entry/Exit Paper Printed so there is no evidence that you ever visited Israel.

 

Israel is the only Democracy in the Middle East.

Israel also allows freedom of Religion.

Example: From 1948-1967 when Jordan ruled East Jerusalem and the West Bank and Egypt ruled Gaza no Israeli Jews were allowed to visit Jewish Holy Sites in those places.

From 1967-1994 when Israel ruled the West Bank and Gaza Palestinian Christians, Palestinian Muslims, Israeli Jews, Israeli Muslims and Israeli Christians could visit any Holy Site within their Religion in those places.

Since 1967 when Israel started ruling East Jerusalem Palestinian Christians, Palestinian Muslims, Israeli Jews, Israeli Muslims and Israeli Christians can visit any Holy Site within their Religion there.

I visited Israel (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Acre, Haifa, Caesarea, Rosh Hanikra Grottoes and the Dead Sea) and the West Bank (Bethlehem and Jericho) in October 2017.