Barak Government

In the election of July 1999, Ehud Barak of the Labour Party became Prime Minister. His party was the largest in the Knesset with 26 seats.

On 21st March 2000, Pope John Paul II arrived in Israel for a historic visit.

On 25th May 2000, Israel unilaterally withdrew its remaining forces from the "security zone" in southern Lebanon. Several thousand members of the South Lebanon Army (and their families) left with the Israelis. The UN Secretary-General concluded that, as of 16th of June 2000, Israel had withdrawn its forces from Lebanon in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 425. Lebanon claimed that Israel continued to occupy Lebanese territory called "Sheba'a Farms" (however this area was governed by Syria until 1967 when Israel took control). The Sheba'a Farms provided Hezbollah with a pretext to maintain warfare with Israel. The Lebanese government, in contravention of the UN Security Council resolution, did not assert sovereignty in the area, which came under Hezbollah control. The Conflict would be known as the "Sheba'a Farms Conflict", and it would last until 2006, with small skirmishes from time to time.

In the Fall of 2000, talks were held at Camp David to reach a final agreement on the Signing of a Peace Treaty between Israel and Lebanon. Ehud Barak offered to meet most of the Lebanese and Hezbollah teams' requests for political concessions, and even pay some money as "Re-Development of Southern Lebanon"; however, Just when it seemed that the Lebanese Might accept it, Hezbollah abandoned the talks without making a counterproposal, and the Lebanese soon after Left as well.

Following its withdrawal from South Lebanon, Israel became a member of the Western European and Others Group at the United Nations. Prior to this Israel was the only nation at the UN which was not a member of any group (the Arab states would not allow it to join the Asia group), which meant it could not be a member of the Security Council or appoint anyone to the International Court and other key UN roles. Since December 2013 it has been a permanent member of the group.

On 28th September 2000, Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visited the Al-Aqsa compound, or Temple Mount, the following day the Palestinians Started a Protest against his Visit. This Would be Known later in Israel as "Sharon's Stupid Provocation". Some thought it would Destroy Peace, but thankfully, The Peace Lasted, while Sharon's Reputation was Damaged.

The Arrow missile, a missile designed to destroy ballistic missiles, including Scud missiles, was first deployed by Israel.

In 2001, with the Peace Process increasingly in disarray, Ehud Barak called a special election for Prime Minister. Barak hoped a victory would give him renewed authority in negotiations with the Lebanese. His Opponent, Ariel Sharon, Could've possibly Won, but the Visit to the Mount Temple possibly provided Barak with the Victory.

The failure of the peace process and occasional attacks by Hezbollah from Lebanon, led much of the Israeli public and political leadership to lose confidence in the Lebanese Government as a peace partner. Many felt that many Lebanese viewed the peace treaty with Israel as a temporary measure only.

Thousands of Jews from Latin America began arriving in Israel due to economic crises in their countries of origin.

In January 2003 separate elections were held for the Knesset. Labor won the most seats (27). An anti-religion party, Shinui, led by media pundit Tommy Lapid, won 15 seats on a secularist platform, making it the third largest party (ahead of orthodox Shas). Internal fighting led to Shinui's demise at the next election.

In 2004, the Black Hebrews were granted permanent residency in Israel. The group had begun migrating to Israel 25 years earlier from the United States, but had not been recognized as Jews by the state and hence not granted citizenship under Israel's Law of Return. They had settled in Israel without official status. From 2004 onwards, they received citizen's rights.

The Barak government embarked on an extensive program of construction of desalinization plants that freed Israel of the fear of drought. Some of the Israeli desalinization plants are the largest of their kind in the world.

In 2005 Sharon left the Likud and formed a new party called Kadima. He was joined by many leading figures from both Likud and Labour.

In 2006, Ariel Sharon Suffered a Heart attack, and Leadership of Kadima, which was Crucial now that Labor's Popularity was slowing down, was taken by Ehud Olmert.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Second Peres Governments

NEXT PAGE: Olmert Government