David Ben-Gurion Biography and Timeline — Page 2

Operation Magic Carpet Begins

Government supports the large-scale airlift of Jews from Yemen.

Role range: 1948-1953

Yemeni Jewish Airlift

Flights bring Yemeni Jewish communities to the new Israeli state.

Role range: 1948-1953

Prime Minister of Israel

Appointed Prime Minister of Israel, 2nd term

Role range: 1949-1953

Promotes Compulsory Primary Education

Ben Gurion's government secured legislation establishing free compulsory schooling as a foundation of the new education system.

Ali Baba

Operation Ali Baba begins, brings 113,000 Iraqi Jews to Israel

Role range: 1948-1949

Law of Return Adopted

Ben Gurion's government supported the Law of Return granting Jews the right to immigrate to Israel.

Magic Carpet

Operation Magic Carpet completed; 47,000 Yemeni Jews brought to Israel

Role range: 1948-1949

Operation Magic Carpet Completed

The main Operation Magic Carpet airlift is completed.

Role range: 1949-1950

Yemeni Jewish Airlift Concludes

Tens of thousands of Yemeni Jews have been transported to Israel.

Role range: 1949-1950

Jerusalem Capital Policy Reinforced

Ben Gurion's administration consolidated central government institutions in western Jerusalem amid international disagreement about the city's status.

Crisis

Ends 8 months of ministerial crisis by forming a coalition Government

Role range: 1949-1953

Government

Ends 8 months of ministerial crisis by forming a coalition Government

Role range: 1949-1953

Blockade of Israeli Ports

Nasser steps up the blockade of Israeli ports & suppoorts Arab rebels at Gaza

Role range: 1949-1953

Invasion of Gaza

Israel invades Gaza

Role range: 1949-1953

Invasion of Sinai

Israel invades Sinai

Role range: 1949-1953

Israeli Ports Blockade Tightened

Egyptian pressure on Israeli maritime access increases while tensions around Gaza also intensify.

Role range: 1949-1953

Retires to Sde Boker

Ben Gurion resigned the premiership and moved to the Negev community of Sde Boker.

Returns as Defense Minister

Ben Gurion returned to government as defense minister before resuming the premiership later that year.

Prime Minister of Israel

Appointed Prime Minister of Israel, 3rd term

Role range: 1955-1963

Sevres Delegation Authorised

Ben-Gurion authorises senior Israeli participation in secret talks with Britain and France at Sevres.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1963

Invasion of Egypt

Meets the French Prime Minister to discuss the invasion of Egypt to oust Nasser

Role range: 1955-1963

Meeting with The French Prime Minister to discuss the

Meets the French Prime Minister to discuss the invasion of Egypt to oust Nasser

Role range: 1955-1963

Sevres Military Accord Negotiated

Ben Gurion participated in secret talks coordinating Israeli military action with Britain and France during the Suez crisis.

Ben Gurion Arrives for Secret Sevres Talks

David Ben-Gurion led the Israeli delegation to secret talks near Paris to obtain assurances about proposed French and British participation in an attack on Egypt.

Role range: 1956-1956

Israeli Leadership Reviews Coordinated Sinai Strategy

David Ben Gurion negotiated the political framework for an attack on Egypt during secret discussions with British and French representatives at Sevres.

Role range: 1956-1957

Israel Seeks Written Guarantee of Support

David Ben-Gurion pressed for a written commitment because he wanted confidence that Britain and France would act after Israel entered Sinai.

Role range: 1956-1956

Protocol of Sevres

Signs the secret Protocol of Sevres setting out the coordinated Israeli, British, and French plan against Egypt.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1963

Secret Protocol Signed for Israel

Ben-Gurion signs the Sevres protocol committing Israel to begin the Sinai operation.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1963

Western Gulf of Aqaba Objective Agreed

Ben-Gurion accepts the secret plan giving Israel military objectives along Sinai and the Gulf of Aqaba.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1963

Israel Commits to October Twenty Ninth Offensive

David Ben-Gurion agreed to a plan under which Israel would begin a major attack on Egyptian forces on 29 October.

Role range: 1956-1956

Israel Receives Conditional Exemption From Ultimatum

David Ben-Gurion secured a clause that did not require Israeli compliance with withdrawal terms if Egypt rejected the ultimatum directed to it.

Role range: 1956-1956

Israeli Nonaggression Commitment Toward Jordan Recorded

David Ben-Gurion accepted a commitment not to attack Jordan during the operation against Egypt, subject to the protocol's stated conditions.

Role range: 1956-1956

Ben Gurion Signs Secret Sevres Protocol

David Ben-Gurion signed the confidential tripartite record setting out Israel's role in the impending Suez operation.

Role range: 1956-1956

Operation Kadesh Political Approval

Ben-Gurion gives final political approval for the Sinai offensive.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1963

Sinai Campaign Cabinet Authorization

David Ben-Gurion submitted the planned Sinai offensive to the Israeli cabinet for approval while keeping its coordination with France and Britain restricted to a small circle.

Role range: 1956-1956

Secret Agreement Shapes Israeli Cabinet Briefing

David Ben-Gurion sought approval for the Sinai invasion without fully disclosing the secret tripartite arrangements to all Israeli ministers.

Role range: 1956-1956

Government Authorizes Sinai Campaign Launch

David Ben Gurion approved the final Israeli move against Egyptian forces in Sinai under the broader arrangements made with France and Britain.

Role range: 1956-1957

Invasion of Gaza

Israel invades the Gaza Strip & the Sinai Peninsula & make rapid progress towards the Suez Canal Zone

Role range: 1955-1963

Invasion of Sinai

Israel invades the Gaza Strip & the Sinai Peninsula & make rapid progress towards the Suez Canal Zone

Role range: 1955-1963

Suez Canal

Israel invades the Gaza Strip & the Sinai Peninsula & make rapid progress towards the Suez Canal Zone

Role range: 1955-1963