August 11, 1929 — Jewish Agency Globalizes Representation
The 16th Zionist Congress ratifies the creation of a broadly representative Jewish Agency for Palestine. The League of Nations’ Articles of Mandate in 1922 called for such an agency to represent Jewish interests in Palestine, and the World Zionist Organization filled that role. But WZO President Chaim Weizmann wanted an agency reflecting the views of all world Jewry, including non-Zionists, and it took seven years.
August 12, 1944 — Labor Leader Berl Katznelson Dies
Labor Zionist leader Berl Katznelson dies of a hemorrhage in Jerusalem at 57. A native of Belarus, Katznelson made aliyah in 1909 as a foundry worker but became disillusioned with the poverty of Jewish workers. He developed the idea of a cooperative group of small landholders that led to the moshav movement. His 1919 program for labor unity became the basis for the Mapai party, created in 1930.
August 13, 1995 — Aharon Barak Becomes Head of High Court
Aharon Barak, a Supreme Court justice since 1978, is appointed to serve as the court’s president, a position he holds until 2006. As Israel’s chief justice, he expands the court’s power, especially in reviewing government and military actions and in protecting civil liberties. A landmark decision in 1995 states that Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty and Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation are pre-eminent.
August 14, 1944 — U.S. Rejects Bombing Death Camps
U.S. Assistant War Secretary John J. McCloy writes to Leon Kubowitzki, the head of the rescue department of the World Jewish Congress, to notify him that the U.S. military will not bomb Nazi death camps and their infrastructure. McCloy is explicit that the United States could conduct such missions but believes that air operations elsewhere would be more effective in saving Jewish lives by defeating Germany.
August 15, 1096 — First Crusaders Set Out
The armies of the First Crusade embark from Western Europe on their quest to capture the Holy Land, especially Jerusalem, from Muslims. Pope Urban II called for the crusade Nov. 27, 1095. The resulting religious fervor spawns pogroms in Europe, and peasants slaughter Jews across the Rhineland. The crusaders capture and pillage Jerusalem on July 15, 1099, massacring Muslims and compelling Jewish allegiance.
August 16, 1966 — Israel Obtains Iraqi MiG-21
Operation Diamond, the plan to obtain a Russian-made MiG-21 fighter jet, succeeds when Iraqi Christian fighter pilot Munir Redfa lands an Iraqi air force MiG-21 at Israel’s Hatzor Air Force Base. Redfa, escorted in by two Israeli Mirage jets, cut a deal with the Mossad that included a $1 million payment, Israeli citizenship for himself and his family, and guaranteed full-time employment.
August 17, 1898 — Russian Zionists Hold First Conference
A few weeks before the Second Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, 160 Russian Zionists meet secretly in Warsaw, where organizer Ahad Ha’am rallies support for a Jewish cultural renaissance before any Zionist political actions. He writes to scholar Yehoshua Ravnitzky that the young Zionists at the Warsaw meeting are excited to hear someone stand up to political Zionists such as Theodor Herzl.
Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.