2001 in Israel explained

Events in the year 2001 in Israel.

Incumbents

• President of Israel – Moshe Katsav
• Prime Minister of Israel – Ehud Barak (Israeli Labor Party) until March 7, Ariel Sharon (Likud)
• President of the Supreme Court – Aharon Barak
• Chief of General Staff – Shaul Mofaz
• Government of Israel – 28th Government of Israel until March 7, 29th Government of Israel

Events

• February 6 – Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon wins the Israeli prime ministerial election which are held following the resignation of Ehud Barak.
• March 7 – Ariel Sharon presents his cabinet for a Knesset "Vote of Confidence". The 29th Government is approved that day and the members were sworn in.
• March 22 – Israeli former general, defense minister and transportation minister Yitzhak Mordechai is convicted of harassing and sexually assaulting two women, and receives an 18-month suspended sentence.^{[1] [2]} Several days after his conviction, he resigned from the Knesset.
• May 24 – The Versailles wedding hall disaster in Jerusalem kills 23 and injures over 200 in Israel's second worst civil disaster to the 2021 Meron crowd crush.
• July 16–23 – The 2001 Maccabiah Games are held.
• October 4 – Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 crashes over the Black Sea en route from Tel Aviv to Novosibirsk, Russia; 78 are killed, 51 of them are Israeli citizens, mostly immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
• November – The Israeli developed and produced assault rifle Tavor TAR-21 was first introduced to the IDF forces.
• December 13 – Masada and the Old City of Acre, Israel are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.^[3]

Israeli–Palestinian conflict

The most prominent events related to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict which occurred during 2001 include:

• January 21–27 – Taba Summit: Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority aimed at reaching the "final status" of negotiations. Ehud Barak temporarily withdraws from negotiations during the Israeli elections, subsequently Ariel Sharon refuses to continue negotiating in the face of the newly erupted violence.
• July 19 – Kach members fire on a car in the West Bank killing three Palestinians.

Notable Palestinian militant operations against Israeli targets

See main article: Violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict 2001. The most prominent Palestinian militant acts and operations committed against Israeli targets during 2001 include:

• January 1 – Netanya center bombing: 54 people are injured when a car, containing 44 pounds of explosives, explodes near a bus stop in Netanya's shopping district. Hamas claimed responsibility.^[4]
• January 17 – Murder of Ofir Rahum: A 24-year-old female Bir Nabala Palestinian activist Amana Jawad Mona, through an online chat claiming to be an American tourist and seduces 16-year-old Israeli high school student Ofir Rahum, arranged for a meeting in Jerusalem but instead drives him to the Ramallah outskirts where Palestinian militants executes Rahum.^{[5] [6]}
• March 1 – Mei Ami junction bombing: An Israeli is killed and nine other people are injured when a Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a bomb in a service taxi. Hamas claimed responsibility.^[7]
• March 4 – Netanya bombing: 3 elderly Israelis are killed in a suicide bombing in downtown of the coastal city of Netanya. Hamas claims responsibility.^[8]
• March 26 – Murder of Shalhevet Pass: a Palestinian sniper killed the 10-month-old Israeli infant Shalhevet Pass in the Avraham Avinu neighborhood in Old City of Hebron.
• March 27 – Talpiot industrial zone bombing: 7 people are injured when a car explodes during the morning rush hour in the Talpiot neighborhood in southeast Jerusalem. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.^[9]
• March 27 – Egged bus No. 6 French Hill junction bombing: 28 people were injured, two seriously, in a suicide bombing on a northbound No. 6 bus at the French Hill Junction. Hamas claimed responsibility.^[10]
• March 28 – Mifgash Shalom attack: 3 Israelis are killed in a suicide bombing. Hamas claims responsibility.^[11]
• April 16 – Five mortar shells land, for the first time in the history of Israel, in the Israeli city Ashdod.
• April 22 – Kfar Saba bombing: A Palestinian Arab suicide bomber kills an Israeli doctor of American origin in Kfar Saba and injures 60 others. Hamas claims responsibility.^{[12] [13]}
• April 23 – Or Yehuda bombing: 8 people are lightly injured when a car explodes in the town of Or Yehuda. Hamas claimed responsibility. Hamas claimed responsibility.^[14]
• May 8 – Murder of Koby Mandell and Yosef Ishran
• May 18 – Kenyon HaSharon bombing: 5 Israelis are killed in a suicide bombing in a shopping mall in Netanya and over 100 are wounded. Hamas claims responsibility.^[15]
• May 25 – Hadera bus station suicide bombing: at least 12 people are injured when a car explodes near the bus station in the city Hadera. Hamas claimed responsibility.^[16]
• May 27 – Jerusalem bombings: two car bombs explode in the center of Jerusalem. The explosions caused no serious injuries. PFLP claimed responsibility.^[17]
• May 30 – Netanya school bombing: a car bomb explodes outside a school in the coastal city of Netanya. The explosion caused no serious injuries. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.^[18]
• June 1 – Dolphinarium discotheque suicide bombing: A Hamas suicide bomber blows himself up at the entrance of a club on a beachfront in Tel Aviv. 21 Israelis are killed and 132 were wounded, all youths.^{[19] [20] [21] [22]}
• June 22 – Dugit bombing: 2 Israeli soldiers are killed when a Booby trapped car explodes near the Jewish settlement of Dugit. Hamas claimed responsibility.^[23]
• July 2 – Yehud suburb bombing: 2 bombs which were planted in cars of 2 Yehud residents explode. The explosion caused no serious injuries. PFLP claimed responsibility.^[24]
• July 9 – Kissufim bombing: A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates his car near a in the Southern Gaza Strip crossing point of Kissufim. The explosion caused no serious injuries. Hamas claimed responsibility.^{[25] [26]}
• July 16 – Binyamina Railway Station bombing: 2 Israeli soldiers are killed and 8 civilians are injured when a Palestinian suicide bomber detonates himself near the entrance to the Binyamina railway station.^[27]
• August 7 – Zohar Shurgi, 40, of moshav Yafit, was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting on Trans-Samaria Highway.^[28]
• August 9 – Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing: A Palestinian suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt weighing five to ten kilograms, containing explosives, nails, nuts and bolts, detonates his bomb. In the blast 15 people (including seven children) are killed, and 130 wounded. Both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad initially claim responsibility.^[29]
• August 12 – Wall-Street cafe bombing: One Israeli is killed and 15 others are injured when a Palestinian suicide bomber detonates himself at the "Wall-Street" cafe in Kiryat Motzkin. The Islamic Jihad claim responsibility.^[30]
• August 21 – Russian Compound bombing: Palestinian militants explode a bomb in the center of Jerusalem. The explosions caused no serious injuries.^[31]
• September 4 – Jerusalem car bombings: Four bombs explode at the same time in Jerusalem. The explosions caused no serious injuries.^[32]
• September 9 – Nahariya train station suicide bombing: an Arab-Israeli who was sent by Hamas detonates himself on the crowded platform of the Nahariya Railway Station, killing 3 Israelis and injuring 94. Hamas claim responsibility.^[33]
• September 9 – Beit Lid Junction bombing: 12 Israelis are injured when 2 car bombs explode near a bus at the Beit Lid junction near Netanya. The Islamic Jihad claim responsibility.^[34]
• September 15 – Meir Weisshaus, 23, of Jerusalem, was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting on the Ramot-French Hill road.^[35]
• October 1 – Talpiot neighborhood bombing
• October 7 – Erez Crossing bombing
• October 7 – Kibbutz Shluhot bombing ^[36]
• October 17 – Assassination of Rehavam Ze'evi: The Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi is assassinated in Jerusalem Hyatt hotel by four Palestinian Arab gunmen, members of the PFLP terrorist organization
• November 4 – Shoshana Ben Ishai, 16, of Betar Illit, and Menashe (Meni) Regev, 14, of Jerusalem were killed when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire with a sub-machine gun shortly before 16:00 at a No. 25 Egged bus at the French Hill junction in northern Jerusalem. 45 people were injured in the attack.^[37]
• November 26 – Erez Crossing bombing ^[38]
• November 29 – Egged bus 823 bombing: Three people are killed and nine wounded in a suicide bombing of a bus near Hadera. Both Islamic Jihad and Fatah claimed responsibility.^{[39] [40]}
• December 1 – Ben Yehuda Street Bombing^[41]
• December 2 – Haifa bus 16 suicide bombing^[42]
• December 5 – Hilton Mamilla bombing ^[43]
• December 9 – Check Post Junction bombing
• December 12 – Neve Dekalim bombing ^[44]

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 2001 include:

• February 13 – The Israeli army assassinate Force 17 commander Massud Ayyad in Jabaliya, firing four air-to-surface rockets at his car. Israel states that he was the leader of a Gaza-based Hizbullah cell.^{[45] [46]}
• May 7 – Israel seizes the Palestinian freighter "Santorini" near the shores of Haifa which was on her way from Lebanon to the shores of the Gaza Strip and was found to be carrying a massive amount of weaponry.^{[47] [48]}
• May 18 – In retaliation for a suicide attack earlier in the day Israeli air-force F16s drop 1,100 lb bombs on targets in Gaza City, Nablus, Ramallah and Tulkarm, killing twelve Palestinians and wounding 90. The first use of warplanes in Palestinian areas since 1967.^{[49] [50]}
• July 13 – Hamas activist Fawaz Badran, is killed in Tulkarm when his car explodes in an apparent assassination.^{[51] [52]}
• July 17 – In retaliation to a Palestinian suicide attack which took place the day before in the Binyamina Railway Station, an Israeli helicopter killed four Hamas activists in Bethlehem, whom Israel claimed were planning an attack on the closing ceremony of the Maccabiah Games.^{[53] [54]}
• August 5 – Israeli helicopters fire a pair of laser-guided rockets at a car in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm carrying the Hamas activist Amer Hassan Madiri.^{[55] [56]}
• August 10 – following the events of the Al-Aqsa Intifada and in response to the Sbarro restaurant massacre, Israeli border police forces raided and took control over the Orient House in East Jerusalem, which was used in the 1980s and 1990s as the headquarters of the PLO in East Jerusalem, as well as nine other unofficial PLO offices in Jerusalem.^[57]
• August 27 – Israeli helicopters fire two missiles at a building in Ramallah killing the General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Mustafa Zibri which Israel considered responsible for a string of car bombings.^{[58] [59]}

Unknown dates

• The Moshe Aviv Tower skyscraper in Ramat Gan officially opens, becoming the tallest building in Israel. (standing at 244.1 m)

Notable births

• January 1 – Deni Avdija, Israeli-Serbian basketball player^[60]
• March 12 – Anna Zak, Russian-born Israeli singer, model, and influencer
• April 10 – Noa Kirel, musician
• October 3 – Liel Abada, association footballer

Notable deaths

• September 8 – Dudu Dotan (born 1949), Israeli entertainer and actor.
• October 17 – Rehavam Zeevi (born 1926), Israeli minister and former general, killed by Palestinian militants during the Second Intifada.
• November 2 – Rabbi Elazar Shach (born 1899), Russian (Lithuania)-born co-founder of the political parties Shas and Degel HaTorah, leader of the Lithuanian Orthodox community in Israel.

See also

• 2001 in Israeli film
• 2001 in the Palestinian territories

Notes and References

1. News: Israeli Official Is Found Guilty On Sex Charges . The New York Times . Deborah . Sontag . March 22, 2001.
2. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/mordechai.html Yitzhak Mordechai
3. Web site: unesco.org . Whc.unesco.org . December 13, 2001 . September 9, 2011.
4. Web site: 3 Large Explosions in Israeli Coastal City of Netanya; 8 Reportedly Injured . CNN . January 1, 2001 . November 30, 2023 .
5. Tania Hershman . Israel's 'First Internet Murder' . Wired . September 9, 2011 . January 19, 2001 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121025113122/http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2001/01/41300 . October 25, 2012 .
6. Web site: Woman 'confesses to internet murder'. BBC News. February 25, 2001. August 4, 2024.
7. News: 1 DEAD, 9 HURT IN BLAST . March 2, 2001.
8. Web site: Suicide bombing kills four in Israel | WORLD News . Tvnz.co.nz . March 5, 2001 . September 9, 2011.
9. Web site: Jerusalem bombs kill one, injure 27. 2023-11-30. www.cnn.com.
10. Web site: Palestinian Terrorism February–April 2001– Photos . Mfa.gov.il . September 9, 2011.
11. News: Two blasts heighten pressure on Sharon Israeli retaliation not expected during Arab leaders' summit. Tracy . Wilkinson.
12. News: Bombing kills two at Israeli bus stop . https://archive.today/20120718113829/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/71692935.html?dids=71692935:71692935&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+23,+2001&author=Kevin+Wack&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=Bombing+kills+two+at+Israeli+bus+stop&pqatl=google . dead . July 18, 2012 . USA TODAY . Kevin . Wack . April 23, 2001.
13. Web site: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search.
14. News: Islamic Jihad leader calls for more strikes on Israel . https://web.archive.org/web/20121106194433/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/71725159.html?dids=71725159:71725159&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+24,+2001&author=Smita+P.+Nordwall&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=Islamic+Jihad+leader+calls+for+more+strikes+on+Israel&pqatl=google . dead . November 6, 2012 . USA TODAY . Smita P. . Nordwall . April 24, 2001.
15. News: Suicide Attack At Israeli Mall HAMAS BOMB KILLS SEVEN Israel retaliates; Bush decries violence . New York . Daily News . May 18, 2001 .
16. News: High alert after Hadera suicide bombing . https://archive.today/20120717133455/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/73394764.html?dids=73394764:73394764&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+27,+2001&author=MARGOT+DUDKEVITCH+and+MAIA+RIDBERG&pub=Jerusalem+Post&desc=High+alert+after+Hadera+suicide+bombing&pqatl=google . dead . July 17, 2012 . Jerusalem Post . Margot . Dudkevitch . Maia . Ridberg . May 27, 2001.
17. Web site: The Mount Airy News - Google News Archive Search.
18. News: CAR BOMB EXPLODES OUTSIDE SCHOOL, THREATENS PEACE PROCESS . May 31, 2001.
19. Web site: The Palestinian Authority-Hamas Collusion – From Operational Cooperation to Propaganda Hoax . Ict.org.il . September 9, 2011 . December 3, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021154/http://www.ict.org.il/Articles/tabid/66/Articlsid/65/currentpage/22/Default.aspx . dead .
20. News: No. 1 Hamas terrorist killed. Followers threaten revenge in Tel Aviv. . https://web.archive.org/web/20121023030542/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-48416289.html. dead. October 23, 2012. O'Sullvian. Arieh. November 25, 2001. Jerusalem Post. January 30, 2009.
21. News: In Hamas's Overt Hatred, Many Israelis See Hope. Fisher. Ian. January 29, 2006. New York Times. January 30, 2009.
22. Web site: פיגוע בדולפינריום – חדשות . Ynet . June 20, 1995 . September 9, 2011.
23. News: Palestinian Bomber Kills 2 Israeli Soldiers in Gaza . https://archive.today/20120714013853/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/74515448.html?dids=74515448:74515448&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+23,+2001&author=Lee+Hockstader&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Palestinian+Bomber+Kills+2+Israeli+Soldiers+in+Gaza&pqatl=google . dead . July 14, 2012 . Lee . Hockstader . June 23, 2001.
24. News: Two bombs explode in Yehud. No injuries, but new tactic alarms authorities . https://web.archive.org/web/20121106194517/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/74929685.html?dids=74929685:74929685&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jul+03,+2001&author=DAVID+RUDGE&pub=Jerusalem+Post&desc=Two+bombs+explode+in+Yehud.+No+injuries,+but+new+tactic+alarms+authorities.&pqatl=google . dead . November 6, 2012 . Jerusalem Post . David . Rudge . July 3, 2001.
25. News: Palestinian source on explosion near Israeli military position in Gaza . July 9, 2001.
26. Web site: Mideast truce a failure | WORLD News . Tvnz.co.nz . July 10, 2001 . September 9, 2011.
27. News: Suicide bomber kills two soldiers in Binyamina attack . https://web.archive.org/web/20121106194528/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/75475803.html?dids=75475803:75475803&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jul+17,+2001&author=DAVID+RUDGE&pub=Jerusalem+Post&desc=Suicide+bomber+kills+two+soldiers+in+Binyamina+attack&pqatl=google . dead . November 6, 2012 . Jerusalem Post . David . Rudge . July 17, 2001.
28. News: Jordan Valley man slain in drive-by shooting . https://web.archive.org/web/20121106194538/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/77152078.html?dids=77152078:77152078&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+08,+2001&author=MARGOT+DUDKEVITCH&pub=Jerusalem+Post&desc=Jordan+Valley+man+slain+in+drive-by+shooting&pqatl=google . dead . November 6, 2012 . Jerusalem Post . Margot . Dudkevitch . August 8, 2001.
29. News: Suicide bomber kills 15 at Jerusalem restaurant – World – NZ Herald News . The New Zealand Herald . September 9, 2011 . August 10, 2001.
30. Web site: TheMarker.com Staff . About 15 wounded in blast at Kiryat Motzkin's Wall Street cafe . TheStreet . August 12, 2001 . September 9, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121011155742/http://www.thestreet.com/story/1516101/about-15-wounded-in-blast-at-kiryat-motzkins-wall-street-cafe.html . October 11, 2012 . dead. mdy-all .
31. Web site: Reuters . Bomb explodes near Israeli police HQ in Jerusalem . Express India . August 21, 2001 . September 9, 2011 . October 14, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121014024136/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=1490 . dead .
32. Web site: Philippine Daily Inquirer - Google News Archive Search.
33. Web site: Jerusalem Post's coverage of the terror attack on Nahariya's Railway Station . Jerusalem Post . September 10, 2001 . September 9, 2011 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080503035155/http://info.jpost.com/C002/Supplements/CasualtiesOfWar/2001_09_09.html . May 3, 2008 .
34. News: ynet מכונית תופת התפוצצה בצומת בית ליד – חדשות . Ynet . Ynet.co.il . June 20, 1995 . September 9, 2011.
35. Jewish Virtual Library;Fatal Terrorist Attacks in Israel Since the Declaration of Principles https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Terrorism/victims.html
36. https://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/isrl-pa/ISRAELPA1002-05.htm Human Rights Watch
37. Web site: Minicy Catom Software Engineering Ltd. www.catom.com . Take A Pen;Israeli children – Victims of Palestinian Terrorism . Takeapen.org . September 9, 2011 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007163213/http://www.takeapen.org/Takeapen/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=84&FID=922 . October 7, 2011 .
38. Web site: Attacks since start of Al Aqsa intifada. www.cnn.com. 2023-11-30.
39. Web site: Islamic Jihad, Fatah take responsibility for bus bombing . . 2011 . 18 October 2011.
40. Web site: Suicide bomber kills 3 Israelis ahead of Bush-Sharon Meeting . . Google News Archive . November 30, 2001. 18 October 2011.
41. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/12/Suicide%20bombing%20at%20the%20Ben-Yehuda%20pedestrian%20mall http://www.mfa.gov.il
42. Book: Nelson, Cary. Dreams Deferred: A Concise Guide to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and the Movement to Boycott Israel. 2016-07-11. Indiana University Press. 9780253025180. en.
43. Web site: Suicide bombing terrorism during the current Israeli-Palestinian confrontation. www.terrorism-info.org.il. 2023-11-30.
44. Web site: Israeli jets hit Palestinian targets after fatal terror attacks - December 12, 2001 . 2023-12-10 . en.globes.co.il. December 12, 2001 .
45. News: Israel Hunts Down and Kills a Top Arafat Security Officer . The New York Times . Deborah . Sontag . February 14, 2001.
46. Web site: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search.
47. News: Israelis Seize Ship In Giant Arms Bust . https://web.archive.org/web/20121106194626/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nypost/access/72599979.html?dids=72599979:72599979&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT . dead . November 6, 2012 . New York Post . May 8, 2001.
48. News: Boat containing weapons found off Israel . CNN . May 7, 2001.
49. News: Israeli Jets Strike Back As Suicide Blast Kills 5 . https://archive.today/20120714113414/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nypost/access/73174768.html?dids=73174768:73174768&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT . dead . July 14, 2012 . New York Post . Uri . Dan . May 19, 2001.
50. News: Israel answers suicide blast – Warplanes kill 9 in retaliation after 5 die in explosion at mall . The San Diego Union . Deborah . Sontag . May 19, 2001.
51. Web site: The Sunday Gazette - Google News Archive Search.
52. Web site: Independent Newspapers Online . Hamas militant killed in West Bank bomb blast . IOL.co.za . July 13, 2001 . September 9, 2011.
53. Web site: Kentucky New Era - Google News Archive Search.
54. Web site: Independent Newspapers Online . Israeli air strike kills four Hamas members . IOL.co.za . July 17, 2001 . September 9, 2011.
55. News: Hamas man killed in IAF rocket ambush . https://archive.today/20120716204044/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/77040249.html?dids=77040249:77040249&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT . dead . July 16, 2012 . Jerusalem Post . Arieh . O'Sullivan . August 6, 2001.
56. News: An Unlikely Gunman Sprays Israeli Crowd . https://archive.today/20120722182147/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/77036577.html?dids=77036577:77036577&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT . dead . July 22, 2012 . Lee . Hockstader . August 6, 2001.
57. News: Palestinian offices seized; Israelis respond to suicide bombing . https://web.archive.org/web/20121106194748/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/432826451.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT . dead . November 6, 2012 . Greg . Myre . August 11, 2001.
58. News: Israeli helicopters hunt down top PLO militant in his office Faction leader killed as Israel broadens response to terror . https://archive.today/20120713120351/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/78949646.html?dids=78949646:78949646&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT . dead . July 13, 2012 . Peter . Hermann . August 28, 2001 . The Sun.
59. News: PLO founder killed by Israeli missile attack . London . The Daily Telegraph . Alan . Philps . August 28, 2001.
60. Web site: Deni Avdija International Stats. Basketball-Reference.com.