January 23, 1950 — Knesset Declares Jerusalem the Capital
Moshe Dayan (second from left) meets with U.N. observers in divided Jerusalem in December 1948. The Knesset officially made the city the capital 13 months later. National Photo Collection of Israel.
The Knesset votes 60-2 to adopt a Cabinet-drafted resolution declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Members of the left-wing Mapam and the right-wing Herut abstain. Herut fails to amend the resolution to explicitly declare all of Jerusalem the capital, despite the occupation of half the city by Transjordan. Two Communist lawmakers vote no on the resolution because they favor the official U.N. position of an international status for Jerusalem.
January 24, 1965 — Syria Arrests Spy Eli Cohen
Eli Cohen (center) joins Syrian military officials for a visit to the Golan Heights, where civilians were barred.
Syrian police arrest businessman Kamel Amin Tha’abet at his Damascus home and charge him with espionage. Tha’abet is Mossad agent Eli Cohen, who speaks Arabic with a Syrian accent after being raised by Syrian Jewish parents in Egypt. Cohen established friendships with senior government and military leaders and provided intelligence that proves crucial in Israel’s 1967 victory. But he is publicly hanged May 18, 1965.
January 25, 1965 — Eban, Dulles Discuss Arms Deal
Abba Eban, shown during a U.N. General Assembly debate over a ceasefire along the Suez Canal in November 1956, failed to win a U.S. arms deal for Israel that year. U.N. Photo Library.
Abba Eban, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, and John Foster Dulles, the U.S. secretary of state, discuss a proposal for a $50 million weapons sale in response to Egypt’s agreement to obtain $80 million in arms from the Soviet Union. But the idea for the first major U.S. arms deal with Israel goes nowhere under President Dwight Eisenhower, who in 1960 says Israel receives enough weaponry from France and Britain.
January 26, 2006 — Hamas Wins Parliamentary Elections
Hamas supporters celebrate victory in parliamentary elections Jan. 26, 2006. Kent College.
Hamas wins 76 of the 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council during elections in which 77% of eligible voters cast ballots. Fatah, the party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, wins 43 seats. Although Fatah’s corruption and Hamas’ provision of social services are believed to be the main reasons for the results, Hamas’ recognition as a terrorist organization and its rejection of Israel’s existence stand in the way of the peace process.
January 27, 2001 — Taba Summit Ends
The Palestinian delegation at Taba proposed this map, showing the Palestinian borders in green with land concessions to Israel in blue, according to The Economic Cooperation Foundation. The Economic Cooperation Foundation.
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in the Egyptian resort town of Taba conclude after a week of progress toward an agreement based on the Clinton Parameters. “We leave Taba in a spirit of hope and mutual achievement,” a joint statement says. But 10 days later Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak loses a landslide election to Ariel Sharon, who declares that he is not bound by anything discussed at Taba or at Camp David in 2000.
January 28, 1790 — BILU Founding Launches First Aliyah
An 1806 painting depicts Napoleon emancipating the Jews across his empire.
The National Assembly of revolutionary France decides to grant citizenship to Sephardi Jews after a debate on Jewish emancipation the previous month. The Sephardim, whose families came to France in the 16th century, are well assimilated but represent the Jewish minority in France. Despite petitioning for citizenship the same month while facing Christian violence, the majority Ashkenazim are not emancipated until September 1791.
January 29, 2005 — Filmmaker, Writer Ephraim Kishon Dies
Ephraim Kishon receives the Israel Prize for life achievement in 2002. By Amos Ben Gershom, Israeli Government Press Office, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Israeli writer, playwright and filmmaker Ephraim Kishon dies at 80 in Switzerland. His works often focus on the daily struggles of regular Israelis and the state bureaucracy. His films include “Sallah Shabati” (1964) and “The Policeman” (1971), both of which won the Golden Globe for foreign film, and his books sell more than 40 million copies. A native of Budapest, he escaped from a Sobibor-bound train during World War II and reached Israel in 1949.
Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.