Marc Israel Sellem
The public was captivated this year by a series of vandalism attacks that began on property belonging to Palestinians in the West Bank, and climaxed with the
torching of a mosque in northern Israeli town and an
attack on an IDF base.
The messages displayed in the attacks project hatred and vengeance, allegedly over government mandated demolitions of illegally constructed outposts in Judea and Samaria.
The government has taken a
hard line against the perpetrators of the vandalism, threatening to bring the attackers to trial for their crimes. A bill was proposed in the Knesset that would double to punishment time for such acts against houses of worship.
Reuters/Ho New
On October 18 an IDF gunrunner was returned to Israel after over five years in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.
Gilad Schalit was returned to his family and his countrymen in a prisoner-exchange agreement with Gazan Islamist group that also released 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.
Schalit's release was secured by Israel following years of back and forth negotiations through backdoor channels and behind closed doors. On that day in October, Israelis celebrated jubilantly at the return of a boy who became Israel's son.
Reuters/Nir Elias
Some might say it began with cottage cheese prices, others when Tel Avivian Dafni Leef packed her belongings, split from her apartment and pitched a tent on Rothschild Boulevard.
This past year in Israel Israel's willing citizens upset over the perceived social injustices in society took to the streets in
ways and masses that were unprecedented.
In addition to the more media savvy social protests, a number of professional groups also picketed over unfair wages, including
doctors,
social workers and
contracted employees.
Reuters/Nir Elias
The news of a cross-border
terror attack emerged in waves. The police report began that an Egged bus had been fired at in the South.
Just a few hours later the picture was more frightening and clearer. Eight Israelis, among them four civilians, had been killed along Israel's border with Sinai.
Armed gunmen had infiltrated the porous frontier, firing on a bus carrying soldiers, and killing four tourists traveling south for a holiday in a separate attack.
The tragedy was a stark reminder of the omnipresent threats of the region.
Reuters/Ints Kalnins
On December 12, 2011, Prof. Dan Shechtman
accepted the Nobel Prize in chemistry, becoming the tenth Israeli to win the Nobel Prize.
Shechtman accepted the award at a Stockholm ceremony Saturday, December 10 for his research on quasicrystals.
"Your discovery of quasicrystals," Dr. Sven Ledin of the Royal Institute of Technology said addressing Shechtman, "has created a new branch of science. This is in itself of great importance."
Every year in Israel is sure to bring unforeseen surprises and difficult challenges. The year 2011 was no different. The people of Israel experienced events that brought honor and joy and others that stood in stark contrast as a reminder of the challenges of the region.
From the series of
price-tag attacks by right-wing
activists, the
historic release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Schalit, the
people of Israel speak out, a
multi-stage terror attack on
Israel's border with Sinai to Israel's 10th Nobel laureate,
Prof. Dan
Shechtman. This was quite a year. Which stories had the biggest impact on you
in 2011?
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