1949

December
A stormy month in the international arena. The UN General Assembly decides once again to make Jerusalem an international city. Prime Minister Ben-Gurion announces that the UN decision cannot be implemented; that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and that all the government institutions - especially the Knesset and the government offices - will be moved there.

Aliyah and settlement reach a peak in 1949. Israel absorbs 259,000 immigrants (an all-time record) and 114 new settlements (also a record) are established.