A few March moments in Israeli and Jewish history

1979: Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty Signing
(Public Domain)

For reasons which require no elaboration; these are difficult times for Israel, supporters of Israel and World Jewry.  Looking back at just a few past notable March events of note for Israel or Jewry from past months; might help put things somewhat in perspective.

Israel and The United States

In March 1969: Former Milwaukee resident, Golda Meir, at age 70, became Israel’s Prime Minister after the sudden demise of Levi Eshkol, who had been Prime Minister at the time of the 1967 “Six Day War.”  Golda Meir was of course Israel’s first (and 50+ years later, still only Female Prime Minister. But at the time “Golda” became the PM; she was one of the first of the female PMs in the World.

In March 1973: Just half a year before the “Yom Kippur War” Golda Meir visited President Nixon at the White House for warm meetings, and the recipient of a State Dinner. Texts of Toasts

In March 1975 came President Ford/Secretary of State Henry Kissinger “Reassessment” of US-Israel Relations in an effort to pressure Israel into agreements with Egypt and Syria. (It resulted in “push back” from American supporters of Israel which saw the famed  May 1975, “Letter of 76″ – 76 Senators of both parties sending a joint letter to President Ford urging stronger support for Israel.

In 1979:  Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, along with Jimmy Carter, were signing the Israel Egypt peace treaty at the White House.

In 1957: Israel under heavy US Pressure withdrew from Gaza. (10 years later; as a result of the 1967 “Six Day War;” Israel had returned to Gaza.)

Victims of Terrorism:

There have been countless Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israel over the decades. In March as in every month.

The 1978 Coastal Highway Massacre saw 38 passengers aboard a bus killed. It also saw the murder of the niece of US Senator Abe Ribicoff. The attacks leading to Operation Litani   – The Israeli “Incursion” into Southern Lebanon

1973:  “Black September” terrorist group taking hostage and then next day  killing in Sudan of US Ambassador Cleo Noel and Deputy Chief of Mission, George Curtis Moore  (allegedly at Yasser Arafat’s instructions)

In 1984: William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Beirut, William Buckley, was kidnapped by Hezbollah gunmen and was tortured to death died while in captivity.

In 2003:  September 11 “Mastermind,” Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (also responsible for an array of other terrorist attacks) was captured by CIA and Pakistani agents near Islamabad and brought back to the United States.

OTHER:

1799: Napoleon Siege & captured Jaffa and massacre of prisoners

1975: Saudi’s King Faisal was assassinated by his nephew.

1980 :The  in-exile Shah of Iran departed Panama for Egypt (and died in Egypt a few months later.)

2003: The start of President George W. Bush’ Operation Iraqi Freedom – The US invasion of Iraq

ANTISEMITISM

Acts of antisemitism and pogroms over the decades and centuries have been too-numerous to detail here. But just a few…In England: 1190: Crusaders massacre of Jews in Clifford Castle in York immediately followed by the massacre of Jews in Bury St. Edmonds

1492 : The expulsion of Jews from Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella “Edict of Expulsion/Alhambra Decree

1933:The First German Concentration Camp, Dachau opened in Nazi Germany. Initially for German “dissidents”
In the World of Antisemitism.

Meanwhile in the United States;  55,000 people staged a protest against Hitler at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In 1994: Steven Spielberg won Oscars  for “Schindler’s List

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)

Finally, regarding “my” former  employers  for 38 years: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC): Over the years, there have been numerous annual AIPAC Policy Conferences which were held during March. (Perhaps a more detailed look back on another occasion!)

March 1960 saw the very first  (AIPAC) Policy Conference with around 100 people attending that first Conference.

60 Years later – five years ago, in 2020: what turned out to be the final annual AIPAC Policy Conference was held with a crowd approaching 18,000 people – and the usual assortment of protestors outside.

And just to note: It was 10 years ago (2015) that Israeli Prime Minister  Netanyahu spoke at AIPAC before giving his “controversial” Address to a Joint Session of Congress opposing “The Iran nuclear deal.”

Addendum

Finally a couple of events which certainly involved and influenced American Jews: In 1951: Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were convicted of espionage (and sentenced to death).

And in 1911: 146 women – Many of them Jewish were killed in fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in New York City.

And as we enter March 2025; there seems little doubt that this will be one of those Marches that will provide gist for material for future look backs!