Events in the year 2010 in Israel.
Incumbents President of Israel – Shimon Peres Prime Minister of Israel – Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) President of the Supreme Court – Dorit Beinisch Chief of General Staff – Gabi Ashkenazi Government of Israel – 32nd Government of Israel
Events
29 May – Harel Skaat represents Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest with the balad “Milim” ("Words"). June 16 – Israel Defense Forces soldiers stop three armed men entering Israel from Egypt, 40 kilometres north of the Israeli city of Eilat. One of them is killed, and the other two flee, leaving behind an explosive device. June 17 – Immanuel Beit Yaakov controversy – Haredi parents of girls in the West Bank settlement of Immanuel begin a two-week jail sentence after the parents refused to follow an Israeli Supreme Court order, without a trial,טרגדיה של טעויות משפטיותNews1, June 17, 2010 requiring their daughters to return to the original school. This imprisonment is followed by mass protests in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak by both religious and secular Israelis who oppose judicial activism."The haredi world’s new heroes" Jerusalem Post, July 9, 2010 June 22 – The Israeli reconnaissance satellite Ofek-9 is launched from the Palmachim Airbase.Barbara Opall-Rome. . Defense News, June 22, 2010 July 5 – Echad Ha'am 101 sitcom first episode is broadcast.Echad Ha'am 101 to be screened in cinemas, ynet, 15.06.10 July 10 – A new bill is introduced in the Knesset that would force Haredi Jewish schools to teach core subjects such as mathematics, science, English, and civics, or lose state funding.Jonathan Lis. "Bill could force Haredi schools to teach math – or lose funding". Haaretz, September 15, 2010 July 26 – 2010 Israeli helicopter disaster in Romania: Six Israeli Air Force (IAF) officers (four pilots and two mechanics) and one Romanian Air Force officer die when an IAF Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter (known in Israel as a "Yasur") crashes, during a joint Israeli-Romanian aviation exercise in the Carpathian Mountains in northern Romania.Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Service and News Agencies. "Netanyahu: Romania helicopter crash is an immense tragedy". Haaretz, July 26, 2010 July 27 – Following a court order, Israeli police demolish the Bedouin village of Al-Araqeeb north of Beer Sheva, evicting 200 residents."Bedouins evicted from village in southern Israel". CNN, July 27, 2010 August 3 – Lebanon border clash – An IDF officer is killed and another seriously wounded when they come under fire from Lebanese Armed Forces, while on a brush-clearing operation on Israel's side of the border with Lebanon, near kibbutz Misgav Am and the Lebanese village of Adaisseh. The IDF returns fire resulting in the death of two Lebanese soldiers and a Lebanese journalist. Several Lebanese soldiers and another journalist are reportedly wounded. August 6 – The Israeli Channel 2 reveals the Galant document, a document which allegedly is a purported PR plan designed to ensure that Yoav Galant would become the next chief of staff. Eventually a police investigation finds evidence that the document was forged and the appointment process of the Chief of General Staff is renewed. August 19 – Israeli mathematician, Elon Lindenstrauss, is awarded the 2010 Fields Medal, becoming the first Israeli recipient of this award. October 10 – The Israeli cabinet approves a loyalty oath bill requiring all future non-Jews applying for an Israeli citizenship to swear loyalty to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state."Government approves loyalty oath bill". Ynetnews, October 10, 2010 November 10 – An Israeli Air Force F-16I crashes in Makhtesh Ramon while on a training over the Negev desert in southern Israel, killing both the pilot and navigator of the plane."Bodies of IAF pilot and navigator found after F-16I crash in Negev" Haaretz, November 11, 2010 November 14 – The Israeli cabinet approves a plan to allow a further 8,000 Falasha Mura, descendants of Ethiopians Jews who converted to Christianity, into the country."Israel to allow in 8,000 Falash Mura from Ethiopia". BBC, November 14, 2010 "8,000 more Falash Mura to come to Israel" JTA, November 14, 2010 November 30 – After about four years of construction, the Carmel Tunnels were inaugurated and opened to traffic, cutting the current travel time from the Haifa South interchange in the west to the Checkpost interchange in the east from 40 minutes down to 8 minutes.Ron Freidman, "There’s light at the end of the Carmel Tunnels" The Jerusalem Post, December 1, 2010 December 2 – The 2010 Mount Carmel forest fire engulfs a bus carrying cadets from the Israel Prison Service's officer course en route to evacuate prisoners from the Damun Prison in the area of the fire, taking 44 lives, including 37 of the cadets and their officers.Ahiya Raved. "Israel's Deadliest Fire Leaves 40 Dead" Ynetnews December 2, 2010Ahiya Raved. "Carmel fire claims 44th victim". Ynetnews, December 18, 2010 "The fire devastates hundreds of acres of pine forest on Mount Carmel in northern Israel, close to the city of Haifa, and is eventually brought under control late on December 5, 2010."Carmel fire fully extinguished". Ynetnews, December 6, 2010 December 30 – Israel's former President Moshe Katsav is convicted of two counts of rape, obstruction of justice and other sexual offences by a court in Tel Aviv."Israel ex-President Moshe Katsav found guilty of rape" BBC, December 30, 2010
Israeli–Palestinian conflict
The most prominent events related to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict which occurred during 2010 include:
March 10 – Israel's government approves construction of an additional 1,600 apartments in a large Jewish housing development in northeastern Jerusalem called Ramat Shlomo. The Israeli government's announcement occurs during a visit by U.S. vice-president Joe Biden and the U.S. government subsequently issues a strongly worded condemnation of the plan.Sheera Frenkel. . The Times, London, March 16, 2010 May 31 – Israeli naval forces raid and capture a flotilla of ships, organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), which are attempting to break the Israeli and Egyptian blockade of Gaza. During the takeover, a violent confrontation erupts on board the largest ship of the flotilla. As a result, nine activists are killed"Israeli assault on Gaza-bound flotilla leaves at least 9 dead". CNN, May 31, 2010Joshua Mitnick. "Flotilla Assault Spurs Crisis". The Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2010 and several dozen passengers and seven IDF soldiers are wounded.Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff, Anshel Pfeffer and News Agencies "Navy commandos: Gaza flotilla activists tried to lynch us". Haaretz, May 31, 2010Edmund Sanders "Israel criticized over raid on Gaza flotilla". Los Angeles Times, June 1, 2010 June 14 – The Israeli government announces the formation of the Turkel Commission of Inquiry to investigate the Gaza flotilla raid and the blockade of Gaza."PM announces raid c'tee framework", The Jerusalem Post, June 14, 2010"Israel sets up inquiry into deadly Gaza flotilla raid". BBC News, June 14, 2010 September 2 – 2010 direct talks: U.S. launches direct negotiations between Israel and The Palestinian Authority in Washington D.C."Behind the Headlines: The resumption of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians". Embassy of Israel, Washington D.C., September 2, 2010 September 14 – 2010 direct talks: A second round of Middle East peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority concludes in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.Herb Keinon. "Second round of peace talks wraps up in Sharm e-Sheikh" The Jerusalem Post, September 28, 2010 September 26 – The Israeli 10-month moratorium in construction of new settlement homes in the West Bank expires at 22.00 (GMT)."Netanyahu urges talks as Israel settlement freeze ends". BBC, September 3, 2010 September 28 – The Israeli Navy intercepts the ship Irene, heading from Cyprus towards Gaza and carrying nine Jewish activists from the US, the UK, Germany and Israel, which was attempting to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.
Notable Palestinian militant operations against Israeli targets
The most prominent Palestinian militant acts and operations committed against Israeli targets during 2010 include:
February 1 – The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), a Palestinian militant group in the Gaza Strip with close ties to Hamas, tries to carry out an attack on Israel by means of bombs placed in barrels and sent into the Mediterranean Sea from the Gaza coast. February 24 – Murder of Neta Sorek March 26 – A team of IDF soldiers from Golani Brigade, who cross the border into the Gaza Strip pursuing several people are seen placing explosive devices near the Israeli border fence, is ambushed and attacked with mortar shells and gunfire from inside the Strip. Two IDF soldiers are killed and three are injured. Hamas and Islamic Jihad claim responsibility for the attack. June 11 – A Palestinian militant attempts to run over two Israeli border policemen in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Wadi al-Joz, close to the Old City Walls. Other members of the border police force, who are at the scene, shoot and critically wound the driver as he tries to escape. The two policemen are lightly injured and receive medical treatment on the spot. June 14 – One Israeli policeman is killed and three policemen are injured when Palestinian militants open fire on their vehicle on Highway 60, south of Hebron. August 31 – 2010 Palestinian militancy campaign: August 2010 West Bank shooting – Four Israelis, including a pregnant woman, are killed by Palestinian militants in a shooting in the West Bank next to Kiryat Arba, when a gunman opens fire on their car. Hamas claim responsibility for the attack.Four Israelis killed in shooting attack near Hebron Haaretz, August 31, 2010 September 1 – 2010 Palestinian militancy campaign: Rimonim junction shooting: Palestinian militants open fire on an Israeli car near Kochav HaShachar in the West Bank moderately injuring an Israeli man and lightly injuring an Israeli woman. Hamas has claimed responsibility for the attack.Two Israelis wounded in second West Bank shooting attack in two daysHaaretz, September 1, 2010 September 26 – 2010 Palestinian militancy campaign: Palestinian gunmen open fire on a pregnant woman and her husband in their car, wounding them both in the legs. The gunmen also shoot at another car, whose occupants evade injury.West Bank shooting attack injures Israeli woman, Associated Press September 26, 2010Woman injured in shooting attack has son via C-section, Ynet News September 26, 2010"Arab Terror Groups Claim Responsibility for Shooting Attack," Gil Ronen and Elad Benari, September 27, 2010, Israel National News.."Una israelí da a luz horas después de ser tiroteada en Cisjordania," September 26, 2010, Europa press."Colona ferita da Miliziano Si Salva e Partorisce," September 27, 2010, La Republica. Fatah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claim responsibility for the attack.Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claim responsibility for shooting attack, Ynet News September 27, 2010 December 18 – Murder of Kristine Luken: An American Christian missionary, Kristine Luken, is murdered and her British-born Israeli friend is seriously wounded by two knife-wielding Palestinian militants while hiking in a forest near Beit Shemesh, on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Four Palestinians, members of a Palestinian terror cell, are later indicted for the attack, which was described as nationalist orientated.
Notable Israeli military operations against Palestinian militancy targets The most prominent Israeli counter-terrorist operations (military campaigns and military operations) carried out against Palestinian militants during 2010 include:
March 26–27 – March 2010 Israel–Gaza clashes between Israel and Palestinian groups