Feb. 14, 1978 — Carter Proposes Aircraft Sale to Saudis
The F-15 Eagle remains the backbone of the Saudi Air Force. By Meteb Ali, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
President Jimmy Carter announces a plan to sell advanced fighter jets to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia as one, all-or-nothing package for congressional approval, drawing immediate Jewish criticism. Carter argues that the F-5s, F-15s and F-16s are defensive weapons, but the White House’s liaison to the Jewish community, Mark Siegel, resigns several months later after learning about the offensive capabilities of the aircraft.
Feb. 15, 2017 — Netanyahu Visits Trump White House
Less than a month after his inauguration, President Donald Trump plays host to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is making his first trip to Washington since his speech to Congress against the Iran nuclear deal in March 2015. Trump says he would like to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem but is studying whether to do so. Both leaders back away from commitments to a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
Feb. 16, 1910 — Children’s Author Miriam Roth Is Born
Miriam Roth, who elevates children’s literature in Israel, is born in the Slovakian region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. She makes aliyah in 1931, but she doesn’t begin writing children’s books until the 1970s in her 60s. She keeps writing into her 90s, despite beginning to lose her eyesight in the 1980s. Her 23 books, including “A Tale of Five Balloons,” “Boots,” “Yael’s House” and “Podi the Hedgehog,” sell millions of copies.
Feb. 17, 2013 — Musician Shmulik Kraus Dies
Shmulik Kraus, one of Israel’s most influential musicians, dies of swine flu in Tel Aviv at 77. In a career that began in the 1950s, he performed with Esther and Avi Ofarim, Arik Einstein and Josie Katz, to whom he was married for a time. His solo career included a pioneering psychedelic rock album, “The State of Israel vs. Shmuel Kraus,” which he wrote and recorded after a brief stay in jail related to an armed standoff with police.
Feb. 18, 1577 — Safed Jews Petition for Protection
The Jews of Safed (Tzfat), which is the largest Jewish community in Ottoman Palestine during the 16th century and is going through a period of growth, petition the sultan for protection from persecution by local officials. The petition cites extortion, violence and forced menial tasks on Shabbat, such as transporting dung. Later in 1577, the sultan orders an investigation to ensure Safed’s Jews are paying enough taxes.
Feb. 19, 1936 — Strategy Meeting Plans Zionist Land Purchases
Under the chairmanship of Moshe Shertok (Sharett), the Jewish Agency convenes a meeting of Zionist leaders to discuss how to keep purchasing land for the growing Jewish population in Palestine despite anticipated British restrictions. While Shertok argues for engaging with the British to shape Zionist-friendly laws, the group agrees that if the British institute restrictions, as they do in 1939, the Jewish community will oppose them.
Feb. 20, 2009 — Netanyahu Invites Kadima, Labor to Join Coalition
Benjamin Netanyahu, whose Likud finished second in the Knesset election 10 days earlier, is given the first opportunity to form a government by President Shimon Peres and invites rivals Tzipi Livni of Kadima and Ehud Barak of Labor to join his coalition. Livni agrees to discuss the possibility, but differences over the Palestinians keep them apart. Barak initially rejects Netanyahu’s offer but winds up joining the coalition.
Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.