1981 in Israel - Events

Events

Operation Opera is carried out on 7 June 1981 in which the Israeli Air Force severely damage Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor under construction near Baghdad
  • 28 April - For the first time, Israel intervened directly in the war between Syria and Lebanese Christians, as Israeli jets shot down two Syrian helicopters, killing four crewmen.
  • 7 June – Operation Opera: Eight Israeli F-16s, escorted by F-15s, severely damage Osirak, an Iraqi nuclear reactor under construction near Baghdad, which Israeli military intelligence maintain was built by the regime of Saddam Hussein for the purpose of plutonium production to further an Iraqi nuclear weapons program. Israeli intelligence also believed that the summer of 1981 would be the last chance to destroy the reactor before it would be loaded with nuclear fuel.
  • 30 June – The Likud party led by Menachem Begin wins the 10th Israeli legislative elections.
  • July – The 1981 Maccabiah Games are held.
  • 5 August – Menachem Begin presents his cabinet for a Knesset "Vote of Confidence". The 19th Government is approved that day and the members are sworn in.
  • 30 November – The Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Cooperation was signed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon. The MOU lasted only 17 days, and was suspended after Israel announced its annexation of the Golan Heights.
  • 14 December – The Knesset approves the "Golan Heights Law" which applies Israel's government and laws to the Golan Heights. The law was condemned internationally and declared null and void by United Nations Security Council Resolution 497.
  • 18 December – Four days after Isreael annexed the Golan Heights, the U.S. terminated its recently made Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Israel. The MOU was not reinstated until 17 May 1983.

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