Nov. 28, 1961 — Operation Yachin Begins for Moroccan Jews

After a two-year ban on Jewish emigration from Morocco, Israel launches Operation Yachin to help Moroccan Jews make aliyah via France or Italy. By the operation’s end in 1964, more than 97,000 members of the ancient Jewish community leave Morocco. Israel pays Morocco $500,000, plus $100 each for the first 50,000 emigrants and $250 each after that. The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society contributes $50 million toward the effort.

Nov. 29, 1947 — U.N. Approves Partition of Palestine

On a vote of 33-13 with 10 abstentions, the U.N. General Assembly passes Resolution 181, which calls for the partition of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states linked by an economic union and a special international status for Jerusalem. Resolution 181 follows the recommendation of the majority of the 11-nation U.N. Special Committee on Palestine. A five-member commission is appointed to implement the partition plan.

Nov. 30, 2010 — Carmel Tunnels Open in Haifa

Haifa’s Carmel Tunnels open to traffic, enabling drivers to get from Carmel Beach in the west to the Check Post on the eastern side of Mount Carmel in eight minutes. The toll tunnels, the longest in Israel, are an infrastructure project first discussed during the British Mandate. Because of bureaucratic delays, they aren’t completed until 13 years after a groundbreaking ceremony, although actual construction takes about three years and costs $420 million.

Dec. 1, 1973 — David Ben-Gurion Dies

Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, dies at the Tel HaShomer-Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv at 87 a few weeks after suffering a stroke. Born David Gruen, he made aliyah from Poland in 1906 and rose to lead the Jewish Agency and the birth of the modern State of Israel. An estimated 100,000 people visit his coffin at the Knesset before his brief funeral two days later. He is buried at Sde Boker beside his wife, Paula.

Dec. 2, 2001 — Bus bombing in Haifa Kills 16

A Palestinian plumber from Nablus boards a No. 16 Egged bus in Haifa and activates an explosive device concealed beneath his clothes. The blast turns the bus into a fireball that smashes into another bus. The bombing kills the bomber and 15 innocent passengers and injures an additional 35 people, 17 of them critically. Just 12 hours earlier, three terrorist attacks killed 12 people in Jerusalem and wounded more than 180 others.

Dec. 3, 1969 — Findings of Jewish Quarter Excavation Are Revealed

Hebrew University archaeologist Nahman Avigad announces the results of his excavation of the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, which Israel captured during the June 1967 war. The dig sheds light on nine stages of the city’s history, from the Israelites to the Crusaders. The finds include a 2,200-year-old engraving in a plastered wall depicting the Temple menorah, which was taken to Rome after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E.

Dec. 4, 2000 — Law Bars Discrimination in Schools

The Knesset passes legislation proposed by Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who is also the education minister, to prevent discrimination in schools and educational centers. The 21-point Pupils’ Rights Law declares that every child has a right to an education, may participate in matriculation examinations and has the right to confidentiality. The law forbids discrimination against students based on ethnicity, socioeconomic status or political alignment.

Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.