ISRAEL MFA
 
Israeli civilian killed by mortar fire from Gaza Strip (Ynet report)


The significance and implications of contemporary Arab-Muslim anti-Semitism (IICC) - April 2008


The Hamas military buildup in the Gaza Strip (IICC - updated April 2008)


The State of Israel celebrates 60 years of independence - List of major events


Puppet child on Hamas TV "kills" US President Bush


Palestinians Blow Up Monument in British War Cemetery in Gaza (Reuters)


Israel Radio launches foreign language portal for on-line news broadcasts


IDF: Islamic Jihad producing Grad-like rockets (Ynet)


Leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad admits Israeli security fence prevents suicide bombing attacks (IICC) - March 2008


Der Spiegel (7 Feb): A Visit to a Gaza Rocket Factory


 
 MFA newsletter
   
Israeli missions abroad
The full list
Foreign missions in Israel
The full list
 
 

 

 

 

Israel celebrates 60th Anniversary

 
   
Israel's 60th Independence Day - 2008   
Israel celebrates 60th Independence Day
6 May 2008
Israel Independence Day is celebrated annually, according to the Hebrew calendar, on 5 Iyar, the anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. As this date falls this year on the Sabbath, celebrations have been moved up to Thursday, May 8.

The day preceding this celebration is devoted to the memory of those who gave their lives for the achievement of the country's independence and its continued existence.
Full story Printer friendly    View video
 
The Hamas war against Israel: A Diary - May 2008
Paramedic covering body of civilian killed on 9 May
12 May 2008
During the first five days of May, 34 rockets and mortars launched from the Gaza Strip struck Israel. Over the weekend of 9 – 11 May over 20 additional rockets and mortars landed in Israeli territory, killing one man and wounding several others. Extensive damage was caused to buildings and other property.

- Summary of the Israeli-Palestinian Confrontation April 29-May 6, 2008 (IICC report)
- Summary of the Israeli-Palestinian Confrontation April 22 - 29, 2008 (IICC report)
- Gaza: Israeli aid and Hamas attacks
- Humanitarian assistance to Gaza since the Feb 27 escalation in terror
- Main terror attacks at Gaza Strip crossings
Full story Printer friendly
 
  Latest releases

Mongolian president on historic four-day visit to Israel 12-May-2008
Editorials 12-May-2008
Cabinet communique 11-May-2008
Behind the Headlines: Hamas holding Gaza population hostage 7-May-2008
Joint press conference with FM Livni and US Secy of State Rice 4-May-2008
FM Livni holds meetings with world leaders at AHLC donors meeting in London 2-May-2008
IDF Chief of Staff addresses participants in 'March of the Living' 1-May-2008
• Terror from Gaza: 10-month update 30-Apr-2008 
• Yad Vashem Launches YouTube Channels in English and Arabic 29-Apr-2008
Road opened between Nablus and northern Samaria villages 28-Apr-2008
Humanitarian assistance to Gaza since Feb 27 escalation in terror 23-Apr-2008


  Facts About Israel 2008 edition

The 60th anniversary edition of Facts About Israel (2008) has been published and is currently available for download in pdf format.

History
The State
The Land
The People
Health and Social Services
Education
Science and Technology
Economy
Culture
Among the Nations
Facts About Israel (complete book - 6 MB)


FM Livni's Independence Day address at the President's Residence
8 May 2008
FM Livni: In my view, seeking peace is one of the sources of our national strength. It is integral to our children's education, it is the most popular word in Jewish prayer, in our songs, in our literature and poetry and in the speeches not just of our politicians but of our army generals.
Full story Printer friendly
 
Mainstream Palestinian Forum: Fatal Mistakes by the "Palestinian Resistance"
4 May 2008
Mainstream Palestinian forum: What kind of resistance is this that occupies the homes of innocent civilians and set up its rockets near the homes of unarmed and innocent people, to launch a rocket that falls on the ground in an open area, so children and women will be killed afterwards? What kind of resistance is it that insists on continuing to shed Palestinian blood at the lowest price just to prove it is a “resistance,” even if it sacrifices all else? How long shall we ourselves believe it?
Full story Printer friendly
 
Joint press conference with FM Livni and US Secretary of State Rice

FM Livni and US Secy of State Rice   (Photo: Reuters)

4 May 2008
FM Livni: Israel has no hidden agenda. Our idea is to reach an understanding, to find a way to define the future borders of the Palestinian state while, of course, giving an answer to Israel's security needs and other issues that are part of our concern, including the need to end the conflict by defining the future Palestinian territory.
Full story Printer friendly
 
Hamas's military buildup in the Gaza Strip
Hamas's military buildup in the Gaza Strip
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
10 Apr 2008
The release today by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITTC) of their latest report, "Hamas's military buildup in the Gaza Strip" marks the first comprehensive study into the issue to be published.
Full story Printer friendly
 
21 months in terrorist captivity
21 months in terror captivity - Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser

View video conference with Karnit Goldwasser with six US campuses


21 months have passed since the unprovoked abduction of Gilad Shalit on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza on June 25, 2006 and the abduction of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser on the Israeli side of the Lebanese border on July 12, 2006.

When celebrating the Passover seder this year, we will leave an empty chair to remember the sons who have been denied their freedom on this Festival of Freedom.
Full story Printer friendly   View video
 
Today in history
43 year/s ago
Israel & West Germany establish diplomatic relations
Israeli civilian killed by mortar fire from the Gaza Strip
kibbutznik killed by mortar bomb

Lethal attack in the front yard (Photo:  Edi Israel)

11 May 2008
Following numerous rocket and mortar attacks on the western Negev over the weekend, in which one civilian was killed and others were injured, the Israeli Air Force struck two Hamas police stations in southern Gaza, killing five terrorist operatives and wounding others.
Full story Printer friendly
 
Israel flies in relief volunteers to Myanmar

Volunteers from the Israeli Flying Aid team help Indonesia earthquake victims in Java in June 2006.
(Photo: Israel 21C)

12 May 2008
As the death toll in Myanmar (formerly Burma) rises to more than 23,335, according to official reports, and the risk of disease mounts, Israeli relief workers have flown out to the disaster torn region.
Full story Printer friendly
 
The Hamas terror war against Israel
Weapons found in a Gaza mosque, 16 April 2008 (Photo: IDF Spokesman)
Weapons found in a Gaza mosque, 16 April 2008 (Photo: IDF Spokesman)
12 May 2008
Over 830 rockets and over 800 mortars fired from Gaza have struck southern Israel since the beginning of the year (January - April 2008).

 
- Behind the Headlines: Hamas holding Gaza population hostage 
- Behind the Headlines: Pragmatic Arab views of Hamas  
 - A Hamas-made crisis in Gaza
- Gaza: Israeli aid and Hamas attacks
- Humanitarian assistance to Gaza since Feb 27 escalation in terror
- Main terror attacks at Gaza Strip crossings

- The Hamas military buildup in the Gaza Strip (IICC - updated April 2008) 
- Terror in Gaza: Nine months since the Hamas takeover
Full story Printer friendly   View video
 
Conclusions from Investigation of the Incident in Beit-Hanoun on April 28th
Israeli military helicopter releases flare over Gaza   (Photo: Reuters)
2 May 2008
Conclusions from the IDF investigation of the incident in Beit-Hanoun on April 28th, in which a mother and four children were killed, corroborate conclusions of the preliminary inquiry.
Full story Printer friendly
 
FM Tzipi Livni delivers the opening statement at the AHLC Donors' Conference in London
FM Livni and FM Miliband
FM Livni and Britain's Foreign Sec. David Miliband (photo by John Rifkin)
2 May 2008
In her address at the annual AHLC Donors' Conference in London, FM Tzipi Livni summarized Israel's policy and vision regarding a solution to the conflict, reported on progress in the ngotiations and on the ground, emphasized the difficulties posed by ongoing terrorism and expressed her belief that the process can ultimately succeed. FM Livni also met with PM Gordon Brown, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Jordanian Foreign Minister Salaheddin Al-Bashir, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and other senior officials, as well as with the heads of the Jewish communities of Great Britain.
Full story Printer friendly
 
60th anniversary: Following in the paths of our heroes
IDF exercise 1948
War of Independence, IDF 8th Brigade (photo: La-am)
30 Apr 2008
45,000 Israeli high school students retrace the steps of the brave men and women who fought in battles for Jerusalem in 1948 and 1967, in an educational project sponsored by the Ministry of Defense, in collaboration with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and the 60th Anniversary Administration.
Full story Printer friendly
 
Israel, the Conflict and Peace: Answers to frequently asked questions
Israel, the Conflict and Peace: Answers to frequently asked questions
Updated November 2007

• What is Israel's position on a Palestinian state?
• Does Israel have partners for making peace in the Arab world?
• Why is Israel a Jewish state?
• How does Israel's legal system protect human rights and basic freedoms?
• Is Palestinian terrorism part of international terrorism?

Read the answers to these and many more questions.

Now also available in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Russian (pdf).
Full story Printer friendly
 
   
 
   
 
     Feedback | Map | Hebrew     
 
© 2008 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs - The State of Israel. All rights reserved.   Terms of use   Use of cookies