March 1, 1922 — Yitzhak Rabin Is Born
Yitzhak Rabin, Israel’s fifth prime minister and the first native to the Land of Israel, is born in Jerusalem. He serves in the Palmach in the pre-state era, leads the defense of Jerusalem during the War of Independence, is the military chief of staff during the 1967 Six-Day War, spends five years as Israel’s U.S. ambassador, and reaches the Oslo Accords and Jordan peace treaty during his second term as prime minister.
March 2, 1983 — Doctors Begin 4-Month Strike
The Israel Medical Association launches a lengthy labor action to protest the government’s refusal to grant doctors a substantial pay raise after nearly 11 months of negotiations. Starting with the establishment of private clinics, the strike escalates to hospital walkouts and eventually a hunger strike before the government reaches a settlement that includes a raise and arbitration over work conditions June 26.
March 3, 1939 — Mufti Rejects Majority-Arab State
The mufti of Jerusalem, who generally avoids any engagement with the British authorities, leaves a meeting at the offices of the Palestine Royal Commission in 1937. Library of Congress.
The mufti of Jerusalem, Hajj Amin al-Husayni, rejects a British proposal to severely limit Jewish immigration while working toward the establishment of a single state of Palestine with an Arab majority and a Jewish minority within a decade. The proposal has the support of the entire Arab Higher Committee, but the mufti refuses to accept any plan that includes a continuing Jewish presence in the Land of Israel.
March 4, 1996 — Hamas Suicide Bomber Strikes Tel Aviv
The mufti of Jerusalem, who generally avoids any engagement with the British authorities, leaves a meeting at the offices of the Palestine Royal Commission in 1937. Library of Congress.
A Palestinian from Ramallah detonates a 45-pound bomb packed with nails outside Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Center on the eve of Purim, when the mall is crowded with children in costumes. The Hamas-affiliated bomber and 13 Israelis, including five children age 13 or younger, are killed. The attack is the fourth terrorist act in nine days, combining to kill more than 60 Israelis amid a Knesset election campaign.
March 5, 1934 — Nobel Laureate Kahneman Is Born
Daniel Kahneman, who wins the 2002 Nobel economics prize, is born in Tel Aviv. He grows up in Paris until the Nazis defeat France in 1940, and he makes aliyah in early 1948. With cognitive psychologist Amos Tversky, Kahneman in 1979 writes the foundational text of his prize-winning prospect theory, which holds that humans often make decisions based on biased personal evaluations of gains and losses.
March 6, 1948 — Clifford Opposes State Dept. on Israel
Clark Clifford, a trusted adviser to President Harry Truman, writes two detailed memoranda arguing for the United States to support the partition of Palestine and lift an arms embargo on Jewish forces. In opposing the State Department’s policy staff and leadership, Clifford helps ensure Truman’s continued backing of the November 1947 U.N. partition resolution and recognition of Israeli independence in May.
March 7, 1977 — Rabin, Carter Clash in Initial Meeting
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and U.S. President Jimmy Carter meet in Washington. Rabin suggests that Israel could move forward with a peace treaty with Egypt and perhaps Jordan; Carter expresses a preference for steps toward a comprehensive Middle East peace on U.S. terms. Carter says Rabin is like a “cold fish.” Before Rabin leaves town, Carter announces that the PLO should be part of peace talks.
Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.
