Israel's History:
1955

1955:
by Judah Loewenstein, 2002-2003 Hagalil Israel Affairs VP

In 1955 there were major historical, political, and military related events that took place in Israel.

• The four remaining Dead Sea Scrolls, acquired for the State of Israel by Professor Yigael Yadin, arrived in Israel.
• There was oil found in the Heletz oilfield in the Negev, but the quantity turned out to be small.
• Elections for the Third Knesset took place, and David Ben Gurion again becomes Prime Minister.
• Bar Ilan University, with its emphasis on Jewish heritage studies, opens in Ramat Gan.
• Two Egyptian Jews are hanged after being convicted of spying for Israel.
• The Prime Minister of Burma pays an official visit to Israel - the first by any state leader.
• Dr. Israel Kastner, a leader of Hungarian Jewry who later immigrated to Israel, is found guilty in a district court of colloboration with the Nazis during World War II.
• Kiryat Gat is established in the Lachish area.
• Bulgarian fighter planes down an El Al civilian airliner over Bulgaria; 58 died.
• Continuous incidents between Egypt and Israel/Syria, primarily in the Gaza DMZ.
• Operation Black Arrow (Hetz Shahor) launched by Israel in February 1955, following Egyptian incursions into Israel, resulted in a major embarassment for Egypt and caused Nasser to rethink his strategy with Israel.
• In the first two months of 1955, there were 27 incursions from the Gaza Strip into Israel. After an Egyptian raid deep into Israeli territory, the Israel Defense Forces retaliated on the 28th of February.
• British/US attempt to minimize Soviet incursions and protect friendly regimes. Israel feels isolatated and lacking Western protection.
• Throughout the spring and summer, rumors of Israel attacking on the waters are being heard. Israel is going to try and expand its borders. Ben Gurion summed this up by saying "Our problem is not simply the security of our independence, our territory, our borders, our regime, but the security of our simple physical survival. Our enemies are scheming not only against our territory and independence. Their plan, as many of them state frankly, is to throw us all into the sea." This was perhaps one of his most emotional statements, and caused a lot of pro Israel rallies to take place.
• Ferbruary 24th, 1955
  The Baghdad Pact, a Pact of Mutual Cooperation between Iraq, Turkey, Great Britain, Pakistan, and Iran is signed.
• December, 1955
  After heavy artillery fire on Israeli villages and fishermen on December 10th, Israel launched on the following night a major raid causing many Syrian casualties. Both Israel and Syria launched complaints with the United Nations Security Council.
• December 11th, 1955
  Israel launched an attack on Syria following the firing on a police patrol boat possibly sent as a deliberate provocation (Operation Olive Leaves, condemned in Security Council Resolution #111).

The year 1955 had many interesting events. With all the military action occurring it began to shape the future of Israel. The battles would start within a short period of time. It was at this point that the country had to band together and be as strong, if not stronger, than ever before.