Events in the year 1963 in Israel.
Incumbents Prime Minister of Israel – David Ben-Gurion (Mapai) until 26 June, Levi Eshkol (Mapai) President of Israel – Yitzhak Ben-Zvi until 23 April, (Kadish Luz, acting president 23 April to 21 May), Zalman Shazar from 21 May President of the Supreme Court – Yitzhak Olshan Chief of General Staff – Tzvi Tzur Government of Israel – 10th Government of Israel until 26 June, 11th Government of Israel
Events 23 April – President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi dies in office and Kadish Luz, Speaker of the Knesset, becomes acting President pending the election of a new President. 21 May – In the 1963 presidential election, the Knesset elects Zalman Shazar as President of Israel, by a majority of 67 to 33 votes caste in favour of his opponent, Peretz Bernstein. Shazar assumes office immediately as the third president of the State of Israel. 16 June – David Ben-Gurion resigns as prime minister for what he describes as personal reasons and chooses Levi Eshkol as his successor. 26 June – Levi Eshkol is elected Prime Minister of Israel. The 11th Government is approved that day and the members are sworn in. 5 July – Diplomatic relations between the Israeli and the Japanese governments are raised to embassy level.
Israeli–Palestinian conflict The most prominent events related to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict which occurred during 1963 include:
Notable Palestinian militant operations against Israeli targets
The most prominent Palestinian fedayeen terror attacks committed against Israelis during 1963 include:
Notable Israeli military operations against Palestinian militancy targets The most prominent Israeli military counter-terrorism operations (military campaigns and military operations) carried out against Palestinian militants during 1963 include:
Unknown dates The re-establishment of the moshav Avivim. The founding of the kibbutz Grofit.
Births 12 January – Rami Heuberger, Israeli actor and entertainer. 2 May – Yoram Yosefsberg, Israeli actor and voice actor 2 July – Hagai Levi, Israeli film director 25 August – Avi Ran, Israeli footballer (goalkeeper) (died 1987). 18 September – Uri Fink, Israeli comic book artist and writer. 4 October – Ronny Rosenthal, former Israeli footballer. 4 November – Lior Birkan, swimming champion (died 2020). 5 November – Yair Lapid, Israeli journalist, author, TV presenter and politician. 20 December – Tal Friedman, Israeli comedian, actor and musician.
Notable deaths
13 February – Daniel Auster (born 1893), Austro-Hungarian (Galicia)-born Israeli politician, the first Jewish Mayor of Jerusalem. 23 April – Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (born 1884), Russian (Ukraine)-born Labor Zionist leader and the second President of Israel. 17 May – Ami Assaf (born 1903), Israeli politician. 8 June – Haim Boger (born 1876), Russian (Crimea)-born Zionist activist and Israeli politician. 23 July – Shlomo Lavi (born 1882), Russian (Poland)-born Zionist activist and Israeli politician. 9 October – Yehezkel Kaufmann (born 1889), Russian (Ukraine)-born Israeli philosopher and Biblical scholar. See also 1963 in Israeli film