Israel
 

to 26 Sep 1918   26 Sep 1918 - 14 May 1948   27 Oct 1927 - 14 May 1948 Civil Ensign 27 Jul 1926 - 2 May 1929 Customs, Excise & Trade Ensign 2 May 1929 - 14 May 1948 Customs & Postal Ensign 14 May 1948 - 12 Nov 1948 Unofficial Adopted 12 Nov 1948  Map of Israel  Hear National Anthem "Hatikvah" (The Hope)  Text of National Anthem in use from 14 May 1948, adopted 10 Nov 2004   Basic Laws (20 Feb 1958-1994) Map of Gaza Strip Map of West Bank  Balfour Declaration (2 Nov 1917) Declaration of Establishment of Israel (14 May 1948) Capital: Jerusalem (Tel Aviv¹ 14 May 1948-23 Jan 1950)  Currency: New Israeli Shekel (ILS); 1948-80 Israeli Pound (ILP); 1927-48 Palestine Pound (PSP); 1918-27 Egyptian Pound (EGP) National Holiday: 14 May (1948) Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day) Population: 8,424,904 (2017)² GDP: $317.1 billion (2017)  Exports: $58.67 billion (2017) Imports: $68.61 billion (2017) Ethnic groups: Jewish 74.4% (of which Israel-born 76.9%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 15.9%, Africa-born 4.6%, Asia-born 2.6%), Arab 20.9%, other 4.7% (2018) Total Active Armed Forces: 176,500 (2008) UNTSO force: 380 (2023) U.S. Forces: 112 (2023) Undeclared Nuclear Power (1966): est. 90 weapons (2021) Merchant marine: 42 ships (2018) Religions: Jewish 74.7%, Muslim 17.7%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.6%, other 4% (2016) International Organizations/Treaties: ADB (nonregional), AIIB, AU (observer)(suspend), BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE (observer), CERN, CICA, CTBT (signatory), CWC (signatory), EBRD, ESCR, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IEA (accession), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA (signatory), ISA (observer), ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO (Mediterranean dialogue), NTBT, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), OST, PA (observer), PAM, Paris Club, PCA, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Israel Index Chronology c.1503 BC - c.1200 BC      Part of the Egyptian Empire. c.1200 BC - c.1050 BC      Hebrew conquest of Canaan (Palestine). c.1010 BC                  Kingdom of Israel under Kings Saul c.1050 – c.1012,                              David c.1010 - c.971 and Solomon c.971 - c.930. c.931                      Kingdom divided between the Kingdom of Israel in the                              North at Shechem (to 720 BC), and the Kingdom                              of Judah at Jerusalem in the South (to 586 BC). c.720 BC                   Northern Kingdom of Israel destroyed by Assyria. c.733 BC - c.612 BC        Part of the (Neo-) Assyrian Empire. c.612 BC - 539 BC          Part of the (Neo-) Babylonian Empire. Aug 586 BC                 Kingdom of Judah and the First Temple destroyed by                              the Babylonians. 539 BC - 332 BC            Part of the Persian Empire. 332 BC - 301 BC            Part of Macedonia (under Alexander "the Great"                              to 323 BC). 301 BC - 200 BC            Part of the (Ptolemaic) Kingdom of Egypt. 200 BC - 110 BC            Part of the Seleucid Empire. 167 BC - 160 BC            Maccabees (Maqabim) revolt against Seleucid rule. 140 BC - 6 AD              Kingdom of Judaea (from 63 BC, under Roman                               suzerainty); under Hasmonean dynasty to 37 AD,                              then under the Herodians - under King Herod "the                              Great" 37 BC - 4 BC, (Herod Archelaus 4 BC - 6 AD,                              in Judea, Herod Antipas in Galilee 4 BC - 39 AD,                              and Philip the Tetrarch in Iturea 4 BC - 34 AD). 40 BC - 37 BC              Occupied by Parthian (Arsacid) Empire. 63 BC - 259 AD             Part of the Roman Empire (from 4 BC Provincia                              Iudaea [Judaea]; from 136 Syria Palaestina). 41 AD - 44 AD              Kingdom of Judaea (briefly restored by Claudius for                              Herod Agrippa), afterward reverting to a province. Aug 66 - 16 Apr 73         "First" Jewish revolt (First Jewish–Roman War) in                              Judea. (Romans retake Galilee 67; Judaea and                              Idumaea retaken 68; Jerusalem, the Second Temple                               destroyed 30 Aug 70; Masada siege 72 - 16 Apr 73). 66 - 68                    Judean provisional government established in                              Jerusalem during the first Jewish revolt. 115 - 117                  Jewish revolt (Second Jewish–Roman War [Kitos War])                              against the Roman rule throughout the Roman                              Empire, including in Iudaea (Judea). 130                        Jerusalem is renamed Colonia Aelia Capitolina. Aug 132 - Aug 135          "Second" Jewish revolt (Third Jewish–Roman War)                              under Simon Bar Kokhba (Kosiba)(d. 135) in Judea. 259 - 272                  Part of the Palmyrene Empire. 272 - 17 Jan 395           Part of the Roman Empire. May 351 - 352              Jews in Roman Palaestina revolt against Constantius                              Gallus under Isaac of Diocaesarea and Patricius. 17 Jan 395 - Apr 637       Part of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire                              (as Palaestina Prima and Palaestina Secunda). May 614 - 628              Occupied by the Sasanian (Sassanid) Empire. Apr 637 - Jul 1073         Part of the Muslim Arab (Rashidun 637-661, Umayyad                              661-750, Abbasid 750-909, then Fatimid 909-1071                              and 1098-1099) Caliphates. Jul 1073 -  8 Aug 1098     Part of the Seljuk (Seljukid) Empire.  8 Aug 1098 - 15 Jul 1099  Fatimid Caliphate rule briefly restored. 15 Jul 1099 - 31 Jul 1291  Latin Christian Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem (Regnum                              Hierosolymitanum)(fall of Jerusalem 2 Oct 1187                              [retaken 17 Mar 1229] and 4 Aug 1244; Acre 18 May                              1291; Jaffa 30 Jul 1291; Sidon 1 Jan 1188 [retaken                              11 Aug 1197 - 1249 and May 1250] and 14 Jul 1291;                              Beirut 6 Aug 1187 [retaken 23 Oct 1197] and 31 Jul                              1291).  4 Jul 1187                Battle of Hattin, Saladin defeats Crusader forces in                              the Galilee.  2 Oct 1187 - 11 Jul 1244  Part of the Ayyubid Sultanate. 11 Jul 1244 - 23 Aug 1244  Khwarezmians sack Jerusalem. 23 Aug 1244 - 24 Aug 1516  Part of Mameluke (Mamluk) Sultanate of Egypt. 24 Aug 1516 - 1918         Part of the Ottoman Empire; part of the Eyalet                              (province) of Damascus-Syria (Jerusalem occupied                              28 Dec 1516). 1660                       Part of the Eyalet of Sa`ida (see under Lebanon).  7 Mar 1799 - May 1799     French under Napoléon occupy coastal Palestine                             (Gaza 24 Feb - 1 Jun 1799, Ramla 28 Feb, Jaffa                              on 7 Mar, Qaqun 15 Mar, Haifa 17 Mar 1799, and                              Nazareth 31 Mar 1799). 1827                       Ottoman administration creates mütasarrifiya of                              Jerusalem. Nov 1831                   Egyptians, under Muhammad Ali, invade Palestine as                              part of Syria (Gaza Nov 1831 - 18 Feb 1841, Jaffa                              8 Nov 1831 - Jan 1841, Haifa 13 Nov 1831 - 1841,                              Jerusalem Dec 1831 - Jan 1841) 14 May 1833 - Jan 1841     Annexed by Egypt as part of Syria (nominally                              under Ottoman suzerainty).  8 May 1834 - Aug 1834     Pro-Ottoman revolt against Egyptian conscription                              and taxation in Palestine.  9 Sep 1840 -  3 Nov 1840  U.K. bombards and occupies Levantine ports (Haifa                              18 Sep 1840, Tyre 25 Sep 1840, Sidon 25 Sep 1840,                              Beirut 10 Oct 1840, and Acre 3 Nov 1840), to                              compel the Egyptians to withdraw from Syria. Jan 1841                   Direct Ottoman rule restored (sanjak of Jerusalem                              [Sancak-ı Kudüs] within the vilayet of Damascus). 1872                       Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem (separated from                              Damascus).  2 Nov 1917                Balfour Declaration by U.K issued announcing the                              British government "views with favour the                              establishment in Palestine of a national home                              for the Jewish people" (published 9 Nov 1917).  9 Dec 1917                British occupy Jerusalem (Beersheba on 31 Oct 1917,                              Jaffa 16 Nov 1917, Jericho 21 Feb 1918, and                              Nazareth 21 Sep 1918). 26 Sep 1918                British occupation of all of Palestine. 27 Oct 1918 - 30 Jun 1920  Occupied Enemy Territory Administrator - South  1 Jul 1920                Palestine (civil administration established). 24 Jul 1922 - 14 May 1948  League of Nations Mandate for Palestine (effective                              29 Sep 1923). 29 Nov 1947                United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine                              approves the creation of independent Arab and                              Jewish states. 30 Nov 1947 - 20 Jul 1949  Israeli war of independence.  12 Apr 1948                People's Council and People's Administration                              elected by the Zionist Actions Committee. 13 May 1948                A resolution in favor of declaring independence is                              passed by the People's Administration. 14 May 1948                State of Israel (Medinat Yisra'el [in official Arabic                              official to 26 Jul 2018: Dawlat Isrā’īl])                              unilaterally proclaimed (international                              recognition is limited until 1949 armistice in                              Arab-Israeli war). 29 Oct 1956 -  7 Mar 1957  Israel occupies Sinai peninsula.  6/12 Jun 1967             Israel occupies Golan Heights (annexed 14 Dec 1981                              previously Syrian); Sinai peninsula (to 25 Apr                              1982) and Gaza Strip (to 12 Sep 2005)(both                               previously Egyptian); West Bank and East                              Jerusalem (annexed 30 Jul 1980, both previously                              Jordanian).  4 May 1994                Formation of the Palestinian Authority.   26 Jul 2018                Hebrew is designated as the sole state language in                              accordance with a basic law passed by the Knesset                              19 Jul 2018 (effective upon publication in Reshumot                              Statutes 26 Jul 2018).  7 Oct 2023 - 16 Oct 2023  Hamas-led attack from the Gaza Strip occupies                              several areas outside Gaza (including Be'eri, Erez,                              Holit, Kerem Shalom, Kisufim, Mefalsim, Nahal Oz,                              Netiv HaAsara, Nirim, Sufra, Urim, Zikim, and                              part of Sderot). Jerusalem Mayors Palestinian Authority French Domain in the Holy Land Map of Jerusalem Map of 1947 UN Partition Plan Map of Israeli Settlements in West Bank Ashkenazi and Sephardic Chief Rabbis World Jewish Congress  World Zionist Organization Samaritans Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Mütesarrifs (Lieutenant-governors) of Jerusalem
1810                       Kanj Ahmad Agha
1814                       Abdul Karim Agha
1820                       Hakimoglu Mustafa Agha
1821                       Sülayman Afand
1821                       Ali Afand
1821                       Muhammad Sa'd (acting)
1824/25                    Ismail Bey
1825/1827                  Uthman Agha
1826 - 1827                Abdul Ibrahim Agha
1827                       Ismail Afand
1827                       Safi Muhammad Agha
1829                       Mustafa Afand
1829 - 183                 Abdul Ibrahim Agha
1831                       Sheykh Said al Mustafa
1831/32                    Yahya Bey
1832                       Muhammad Sa'ad Agha
1832                       Qasim al-Ahmad
1833                       Muhammad al-Qasim bin Qasim al-Ahmad
1833                       Yusuf al Qasim bin Qasim al-Ahmad
1834/35                    Jabr Abu Ghosh
1836/37                    Mustafa Agha al Sa'ad
1838                       Muhammad Ali Agha al Dizdr
1838 - 1839                Ahmad Agha al-Asal al Dizdr
1827 – 1831                Abdullah Pasha
                             (governor of Gaza and Jaffa 1818-1821)
1831 - 1840                Husaum `Abd al-Hadi -Governor-general
1841 - 1842?               Mehmed Tayyar Pasha  
1843? - Dec 1843           Reshid Pasha
20 Dec 1843 - 1844?        Haider Pasha
1845?                      As'ad Pasha  
Dec 1845 - Jan 1847        Mehmed Pasha Kibrizli  
1847 - 1848?               Mustafa Zarif  
1847 - 1849                Bahri Pasha
1849 - 1851                Adham Pasha
1851 - 17 Dec 1853         Hafiz Ahmed Pasha
1853 - 1854                Rashid Pasha
14 Mar 1854 - 20 Oct 1854  Yakub Pasha Osmanoglu
15 Feb 1855 - 1857?        Kiamil Pasha
1857 - 1864                Surayya Pasha
1864                       Mehmed Hurshid Pasha
1864 - 1867                Izzet Pasha
1867 - 1869                Nazif Pasha (1st time)
1869 – 1871                Mehmet Kamil Pasha (1st time)      (b. 1832 - d. 1913)
1871 – 1872                Ali Bey (1st time)
1872 – 1873                Nazif Pasha (2nd time)
1873 - 1875                Mehmet Kamil Pasha (2nd time)      (s.a.)
1875 - 1876                Ali Bey (2nd time)
1876 - 1877                Faik Bey
1877 – 1889                Mehmet Rauf Pasha                  (b. 1838 - d. 1923) 
1889 - 1890                Reshad Pasha
1890 – 1897                Ibrahim Hakki Pasha                (b. 1863 - d. 1918)
1897 - 1901                Tevfik Bey                         (b. 1867 - d. 1938)
1901 – 1902                Mehmet Cavid Bey                   (b. 1875 - d. 1926) 
1902 – 1904                Osman Kazim Bey
1904 - 1906                Ahmet Reshid Bey                   (b. 1870 - d. 1955)
Dec 1906 - Jul 1908        Ali Ekrem Bey                      (b. 1867 - d. 1937)
1908 - 1909                Suphi Bey
1909 - 1910                Nazim Bey
1910 - 1911                Azmi Bey                           (b. 1868 - d. 1922)
1911 - 1912                Çevdet Bey
1912                       Muhdi Bey (Mehdi Frashëri)         (b. 1872 - d. 1963)
1912 - 1913                Tahir Hayrettin Bey
1913 - 1915                Ahmet Macit Bey
1915 -  9 Dec 1917         Midhat Bey
British Military Administrator
 9 Dec 1917 - 30 Oct 1918  Sir Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby    (b. 1861 - d. 1936)
                            (commander-in-chief of Egyptian Expeditionary Force)
Chief Political Officer, Egyptian Expeditionary Force
 9 Dec 1917 - 16 Apr 1918  Gilbert Falkingham Clayton         (b. 1875 - d. 1929)
Chief Administrators of the Occupied Enemy Territory Administration - South
16 Apr 1918 - 31 Jul 1919  Sir Arthur Wigram Money            (b. 1866 - d. 1951)
 4 Aug 1919 - Dec 1919     Sir Harry Davis Watson             (b. 1866 - d. 1945)
 1 Jan 1920 - 30 Jun 1920  Sir Louis Jean Bols                (b. 1867 - d. 1930)
High Commissioners 
 1 Jul 1920 - 30 Jun 1925  Sir Herbert Louis Samuel           (b. 1879 - d. 1963)
30 Jun 1925 - 25 Aug 1925  Gilbert Falkingham Clayton (acting)(s.a.)
25 Aug 1925 - 31 Jul 1928  Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer,     (b. 1857 - d. 1932)
                             Baron Plumer               
31 Jul 1928 -  6 Dec 1928  Sir Harry Charles Luke (acting)    (b. 1884 - d. 1969)
 6 Dec 1928 -  1 Nov 1931  Sir John Robert Chancellor         (b. 1870 - d. 1952)
 1 Nov 1931 - 20 Nov 1931  Mark Aitchison Young (acting)      (b. 1886 - d. 1974)
20 Nov 1931 -  1 Mar 1938  Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope       (b. 1874 - d. 1947)
 4 Sep 1937 - 24 Nov 1937  William Denis Battershill          (b. 1896 - d. 1959)
                             (acting for Wauchope)
 3 Mar 1938 - 30 Aug 1944  Sir Harold Alfred MacMichael       (b. 1882 - d. 1969)
 1 Nov 1944 -  5 Nov 1945  John Standish Surtees Prendergast  (b. 1886 - d. 1946)
                             Vereker, Viscount Gort         
21 Nov 1945 - 14 May 1948  Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham         (b. 1887 - d. 1983)
Chairmen of the Provisional Council of State
15 May 1948 - 15 Jul 1948  David Ben-Gurion (acting)          (b. 1886 - d. 1973)  Mapai
                             (head of the provisional government)
15 Jul 1948 - 14 Feb 1949  Yosef Shprintsak (Shprinzak)       (b. 1885 - d. 1959)  Mapai        
                             (acting)
President of the Provisional Council of State
16 May 1948 - 17 Feb 1949  Chaim Azriel Weizmann              (b. 1874 - d. 1952)  Non-party
                             (= Hayyim Vaytsman)
                             (returned to Israel on 30 Sep 1948)
Presidents
17 Feb 1949 -  9 Nov 1952  Chaim Azriel Weizmann              (s.a.)               Non-party
                             (= Hayyim Azri'el Vaytsman)
 9 Nov 1952 - 10 Dec 1952  Yosef Shprintsak (Shprinzak)       (s.a.)               Mapai
                             (interim)
10 Dec 1952 - 23 Apr 1963  Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (=Yitshak Ben-Tsvi)(b. 1884 - d. 1963)  Mapai
23 Apr 1963 - 22 May 1963  Kadish Luz (= Kadish Luzinski)     (b. 1895 - d. 1972)  Mapai
                             (interim) 
22 May 1963 - 24 May 1973  Shne'or Zalman Shazar              (b. 1889 - d. 1974)  Mapai/Avoda
                             (= Shneur Zalman Rubasho)
24 May 1973 - 29 May 1978  Efrayim Katsir                     (b. 1916 - d. 2009)  Avoda
                             (= Ephraim Katchalskiy)
29 May 1978 -  5 May 1983  Yitzhak Rachamim Navon             (b. 1921 - d. 2015)  Avoda
                             (= Yitshak Rahamim Navon)
 5 May 1983 - 13 May 1993  Chaim Herzog (= Hayyim Hertsog)    (b. 1918 - d. 1997)  Avoda
13 May 1993 - 12 Jul 2000  Ezer Weizman (= Ezer Vaytsman)     (b. 1924 - d. 2005)  Avoda
12 Jul 2000 -  1 Aug 2000  Avraham "Avrum" Burg (acting)      (b. 1955)            Avoda
 1 Aug 2000 -  1 Jul 2007  Moshe Katsav (= Musa Qassab)       (b. 1945)            Lik
                             (suspended from 27 Jan 2007)
25 Jan 2007 - 15 Jul 2007  Dalia Itzik (= Dalya Itsik)(f)     (b. 1952)            Kad
                             (acting for Katsav to 1 Jul 2007, then interim)
15 Jul 2007 - 27 Jul 2014  Shim'on Peres (= Szymon Perski)    (b. 1923 - d. 2016)  Kad
28 Jul 2014 - 10 Jul 2021  Reuven "Ruvi" Rivlin               (b. 1939)            Lik
10 Jul 2021 -              Isaac Herzog (= Yitshak Hertsog)   (b. 1960)            Avoda

Prime ministers
15 May 1948 -  7 Dec 1953  David Ben-Gurion (1st time)        (s.a.)               Mapai 
                             (head of the provisional government to 10 Mar 1949)
 7 Dec 1953 -  2 Nov 1955  Moshe Sharett                      (b. 1894 - d. 1965)  Mapai
                             (acting to 26 Jan 1954)
 2 Nov 1955 - 21 Jun 1963  David Ben-Gurion (2nd time)        (s.a.)               Mapai 
21 Jun 1963 - 26 Feb 1969  Levi Eshkol (= Levi Shkolnik)      (b. 1895 - d. 1969)  Mapai/Avoda
26 Feb 1969 - 17 Mar 1969  Yigal Allon (acting)               (b. 1918 - d. 1980)  Avoda
                             (= Yigal Peikowitz)
17 Mar 1969 -  3 Jun 1974  Golda Meir (f) (= Golda Mabovitch) (b. 1898 - d. 1978)  Avoda
 3 Jun 1974 - 22 Apr 1977  Yitzhak Rabin (1st time)           (b. 1922 - d. 1995)  Avoda
22 Apr 1977 - 21 Jun 1977  Shim'on Peres (1st time)(acting)   (s.a.)               Avoda
21 Jun 1977 - 10 Oct 1983  Menachem Begin                     (b. 1913 - d. 1992)  Herut/Lik
10 Oct 1983 - 14 Sep 1984  Yitzhak Shamir (1st time)          (b. 1915 - d. 2012)  Herut/Lik
14 Sep 1984 - 20 Oct 1986  Shim'on Peres (2nd time)           (s.a.)               Avoda
20 Oct 1986 - 13 Jul 1992  Yitzhak Shamir (2nd time)          (s.a.)               Lik
13 Jul 1992 -  4 Nov 1995  Yitzhak Rabin (2nd time)           (s.a.)               Avoda
 4 Nov 1995 - 18 Jun 1996  Shim'on Peres (3rd time)           (s.a.)               Avoda
                             (acting to 22 Nov 1995)
18 Jun 1996 -  6 Jul 1999  Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu          (b. 1949)            Lik
                             (1st time)
 6 Jul 1999 -  7 Mar 2001  Ehud Barak                         (b. 1942)            Avoda
 7 Mar 2001 - 14 Apr 2006  Ariel Sharon                       (b. 1928 - d. 2014)  Lik;
                             (incapacitated from 4 Jan 2006)                   21 Nov 2005 Kad
 4 Jan 2006 - 31 Mar 2009  Ehud Olmert                        (b. 1945)            Kad
                             (acting for Sharon to 14 Apr 2006)
31 Mar 2009 - 13 Jun 2021  Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu          (s.a.)               Lik
                             (2nd time)   
13 Jun 2021 - 30 Jun 2022  Naftali Bennett                    (b. 1972)            HYH 
 1 Jul 2022 - 29 Dec 2022  Yair Lapid                         (b. 1963)            YA
29 Dec 2022 -              Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu          (s.a.)               Lik
                             (3rd time)   

 ¹Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital 13 Dec 1949 (enacted 23 Jan 1950) but the U.S.,
like nearly all other countries, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv. Note: the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on 6 Dec 2017 without taking a position on the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty.

 ²approximately 391,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2016); approximately 22,000 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2014); approximately 201,200 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2014). 

Territorial Disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Gaza Strip borders with both Egypt and Israel are sealed with barriers, fences, and walls; Israel completed an underground anti-tunnel barrier in 2021; in 2002, Israel began construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; as of mid-2020, plans were to continue barrier construction; Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in Aug 2005; Israel along with U.S. and several other states protest the Arab League and 145 nations' recognition of Palestine's declaration of independence of 15 Nov 1988; Golan Heights is Israeli-controlled (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); since 1948, peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region.

Party abbreviations: Avoda = Mifleget HaAvoda HaYisraelit (Israeli Labor Party, center-left, social-democratic, labor Zionist est.23 Jan 1968); HYH = HaYamin HeHadash (The New Right, national conservative, economic liberalism, religious and secular, split from Jewish Home [HaBayit HaYehudi], est.29 Dec 2018); Kad = Kadima (Forward, centrist, liberal, Zionist, splint from Lik, est.24 Nov 2005); Lik = HaLikud (The Consolidation, conservative, nationalist, as a coalition 1973-1988 led by Herut; a party from 1988); YA = Yesh Atid (There Is a Future, liberal, secular, anti-clericalism, centrist, est.29 Apr 2012);
- Former parties: Herut = Herut (Freedom Movement, secular conservative, right-wing nationalist, revisionist Zionist, 15 Jun 1948-1988, merged into Lik); Mapai = Mifleget Poalei Eretz Yisrael (Workers' Party of the Land of Israel, socialist, left-wing, labor Zionist, 1930-23 Jan 1968, merged into Avoda); Mara = HaMa'arakh (The Alignment, alliance of major left-wing parties- 1965-68 Mapai + Labour Unity; 1969-91 Avoda + United Workers Party); Rafi = Reshimat Poalei Yisrael (Israeli Workers List, social democratic, center-left, 14 Jul 1965 - 23 Jan 1968, merged into Avoda)