Editing History of Israel (section)

===2009–2021: Netanyahu II===
{{Further|2011 Israeli social justice protests|Tamar gas field|Operation Pillar of Defense|2014 Gaza War|2021 Israel–Palestine crisis}}
{{See also-text|[[Thirty-second government of Israel|Thirty-second]]|[[Thirty-third government of Israel|Thirty-third]]|[[Thirty-fourth government of Israel|Thirty-fourth]]|[[Thirty-fifth government of Israel|Thirty-fifth]] governments of Israel}}
In the [[2009 Israeli legislative election|2009 legislative election]] Likud won 27 seats and Kadima 28; however, the right-wing camp won a majority of seats, and President Shimon Peres called on Netanyahu to form the government. Russian immigrant-dominated [[Yisrael Beiteinu]] came third with 15 seats, and Labour was reduced to fourth place with 13 seats. In 2009, Israeli billionaire [[Yitzhak Tshuva]] announced the discovery of [[Tamar gas field|huge natural gas reserves]] off the coast of Israel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel Billionaire Tshuva Strikes Gas, Fueling Expansion in Energy, Hotels |first1=David |last1=Wainer |first2=Calev |last2=Ben-David |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-04-21/israel-billionaire-tshuva-strikes-gas-fueling-expansion-in-energy-hotels.html |newspaper=Bloomberg |date=22 April 2010 |access-date=3 December 2012 |archive-date=12 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112194937/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-04-21/israel-billionaire-tshuva-strikes-gas-fueling-expansion-in-energy-hotels.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 31 May 2010, an [[Gaza flotilla raid|international incident]] broke out in the Mediterranean Sea when foreign activists trying to break the [[Blockade of the Gaza Strip#Naval blockade|maritime blockade]] over Gaza, clashed with Israeli troops. During the struggle, nine Turkish activists were killed. In late September 2010 took place [[Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians (2010-2011)|direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians]] without success. As a defensive countermeasure to the rocket threat against Israel's civilian population, at the end of March 2011 Israel began to operate the advanced mobile air defence system "[[Iron Dome]]"<ref name=atSpecs>{{cite web |url=http://www.army-technology.com/projects/irondomeairdefencemi/ |title=Iron Dome Air Defense Missile System, Israel |publisher=army-technology.com |access-date=18 August 2011 |archive-date=27 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527095441/https://www.army-technology.com/projects/irondomeairdefencemi/ |url-status=live }}</ref> in the southern region of Israel and along the border with the Gaza Strip.
[[File:Israel Housing Protests Tel Aviv August 6 2011b.jpg|thumb|[[2011 Israeli social justice protests|Protest]] in [[Tel Aviv]] on 6 August 2011]]
On 14 July 2011, the [[2011 Israeli housing protests]], in which hundreds of thousands of protesters from a variety of [[socio-economic]] and religious backgrounds in Israel protested against the continuing rise in the [[cost of living]] (particularly housing) and the deterioration of public services in the country (such as health and education). It was the largest social protest in the history of Israel, and peaked on 3 September 2011, when about 400,000 people demonstrated across the country.

In October 2011, [[Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange|a deal was reached]] between Israel and [[Hamas]], by which the kidnapped Israeli soldier [[Gilad Shalit]] was released in exchange for 1,027 [[Palestinian prisoners in Israel|Palestinians]] and [[Arab citizens of Israel|Arab-Israeli]] prisoners.<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-10/17/c_131194865.htm Hamas to gain politically from prisoner swap deal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105105418/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-10/17/c_131194865.htm |date=5 January 2014 }}. News.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved on 20 October 2011.</ref><ref name="Mishra-2011">{{cite news|last=Mishra|first=Harinder|title=Israel to release 1,027 prisoners for its lone soldier|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/israel-to-release-1027-prisoners-for-its-lone-soldier/854824.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111155346/http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/israel-to-release-1027-prisoners-for-its-lone-soldier/854824.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 January 2012|access-date=16 October 2011|newspaper=[[IBN Live]]|date=12 October 2011|location=Jerusalem}}</ref> In March 2012, Secretary-general of the [[Popular Resistance Committees]], [[Zuhir al-Qaisi]], a senior PRC member and two additional Palestinian militants were assassinated during a [[Israeli targeted killings|targeted killing]] carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-israel-gaza/israel-kills-palestinian-militants-in-gaza-strike-idUSBRE8280W820120309|title=Israel kills 10 Palestinian militants in Gaza strikes|date=9 March 2012|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=5 January 2018|archive-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106065252/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-israel-gaza/israel-kills-palestinian-militants-in-gaza-strike-idUSBRE8280W820120309|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17319054|title=Israeli strikes 'kill 12' in Gaza|work=BBC News|date=10 March 2012|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=29 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329201406/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17319054|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2012, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached an agreement with the Head of Opposition [[Shaul Mofaz]] for [[Kadima]] to join the government, thus cancelling the early election supposed to be held in September.<ref name="Somfalvi-1995">{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4226125,00.html |title=No elections: Kadima to join government |work=[[Ynetnews]] |date=20 June 1995 |access-date=6 August 2012 |url-status=live |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214343/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4226125,00.html}}</ref> However, in July, the Kadima party left Netanyahu's government due to a dispute concerning [[Plesner Committee|military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel]].<ref>{{cite news |date=17 July 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18870666 |work=BBC News |title=Kadima quits Israel government over conscription law |access-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=live |archive-date=10 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110080029/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18870666}}</ref>

In response to over a hundred rocket attacks on southern Israeli cities, Israel began [[Operation Pillar of Defense]] in Gaza on 14 November 2012, with the targeted killing of [[Ahmed Jabari]], chief of Hamas military wing, and airstrikes against twenty underground sites housing long-range missile launchers capable of striking Tel Aviv. In January 2013, construction of the [[Egypt–Israel barrier|barrier]] on the Israeli–Egyptian border was completed in its main section.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-israel-africa-immigration-20130103,0,3410875.story |title=Israel completes most of Egypt border fence |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2 January 2013 |access-date=20 February 2020 |archive-date=26 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126141938/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-israel-africa-immigration-20130103,0,3410875.story |url-status=live }}</ref>

Benjamin Netanyahu was elected Prime Minister again after the [[Likud Yisrael Beiteinu]] alliance won the most seats (31) in the [[2013 Israeli legislative election|2013 legislative election]] and formed a coalition government with secular centrist [[Yesh Atid]] party (19), rightist [[The Jewish Home]] (12) and Livni's [[Hatnuah]] (6), excluding Haredi parties. Labour came in third with 15 seats.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21745344 | work=BBC News | title=Israel PM Netanyahu 'reaches coalition deal' | date=14 March 2013 | access-date=21 June 2018 | archive-date=2 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202061358/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21745344 | url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2013, as a "good will gesture" to restart [[2013 Israeli-Palestinian peace talks|peace talks]] with the Palestinian Authority, Israel agreed to release 104 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom had been in jail since before the 1993 Oslo Accords,<ref name="Wash Post 2013-07-28">{{cite news |author=William Booth |author2=Orly Halpern |author3=Anne Gearan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israel-to-free-104-palestinian-prisoners/2013/07/28/390ad8d2-f7a3-11e2-a954-358d90d5d72d_story.html |title=Peace talks set to begin after Israel agrees to free 104 Palestinian prisoners |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=28 July 2013 |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=7 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707212919/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israel-to-free-104-palestinian-prisoners/2013/07/28/390ad8d2-f7a3-11e2-a954-358d90d5d72d_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> including militants who had killed Israeli civilians.<ref name="Wash Post 2013-07-28"/><ref>{{cite news |author=[[Isabel Kershner]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/13/world/middleeast/israel-names-palestinian-prisoners-to-be-released.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2& |title=Timing of Israeli Housing Plans May Be Part of a Political Calculation |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=13 August 2013 |page=A6 |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=19 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719062436/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/13/world/middleeast/israel-names-palestinian-prisoners-to-be-released.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2& |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2014, Israel suspended peace talks after Hamas and Fatah agreed to form a unity government.<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4513046,00.html Sanctions and suspended talks – Israel responds to Palestinian reconciliation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103195342/https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4513046,00.html |date=3 November 2017 }} [[Ynet News]] 24 April 2014</ref>

Following an escalation of rocket attacks by Hamas, Israel started [[Operation Protective Edge]] in the Gaza Strip on 8 July 2014,<ref>{{cite news |author=[[Steven Erlanger]] |author2=[[Isabel Kershner]] |title=Israel and Hamas Trade Attacks as Tension Rises |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/09/world/middleeast/israel-steps-up-offensive-against-hamas-in-gaza.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=9 July 2014 |page=A1 |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=22 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222154524/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/09/world/middleeast/israel-steps-up-offensive-against-hamas-in-gaza.html |url-status=live }}</ref> which included a ground incursion aimed at destroying the [[Palestinian tunnel warfare in the Gaza Strip|cross-border tunnels]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Gaza conflict: Israel and Palestinians agree long-term truce|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28939350|work=BBC News|date=27 August 2014|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=14 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414134424/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28939350|url-status=live}}</ref> Differences over the budget and a [[Basic Law proposal: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People|"Jewish state" bill]] triggered early elections in December 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israel-s-benjamin-netanyahu-fires-2-ministers-election-likely-1.2857502|title=Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu fires 2 ministers, election likely|agency=CBC News|date=2 December 2014|access-date=10 May 2015|archive-date=4 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504164200/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israel-s-benjamin-netanyahu-fires-2-ministers-election-likely-1.2857502|url-status=live}}</ref> After the [[2015 Israeli legislative election|2015 Israeli elections]], Netanyahu renewed his mandate as Prime Minister when [[Likud]] obtained 30 seats and formed a right-wing coalition government with [[Kulanu]] (10), [[The Jewish Home]] (8), and Orthodox parties [[Shas]] (7) and [[United Torah Judaism]] (6), the bare minimum of seats required to form a coalition. The [[Zionist Union]] alliance came second with 24 seats.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/06/middleeast/israel-election-coalition/ |title=Benjamin Netanyahu forms a coalition government for Israel |newspaper=CNN |date=6 May 2015 |access-date=10 May 2015 |archive-date=19 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519005942/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/06/middleeast/israel-election-coalition/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A wave of [[2015–2016 wave of violence in Israeli-Palestinian conflict|lone-wolf attacks by Palestinians]] took place in 2015 and 2016, particularly stabbings.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/31/israel-palestine-violence-knife-attacks-west-bank-gaza |title=Israel-Palestine: outlook bleak as wave of violence passes six-month mark |newspaper=The Guardian |date=31 March 2016 |access-date=16 July 2020 |archive-date=17 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717052229/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/31/israel-palestine-violence-knife-attacks-west-bank-gaza |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Dedication ceremony of the Embassy of the United States in Jerusalem 2724 (42152538641).jpg|thumb|left|Dedication ceremony of the [[Embassy of the United States, Jerusalem|Embassy of the United States]] in [[Jerusalem]] in 2018]]
On 6 December 2017, President [[Donald Trump]] formally announced [[United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel]],<ref>Proclamation 9683 of 6 December 2017, [https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-12-11/pdf/2017-26832.pdf#page=1 82 FR 58331] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213142840/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-12-11/pdf/2017-26832.pdf#page=1 |date=13 December 2017 }}</ref> which was followed by the [[United States recognition of the Golan Heights as part of Israel]] on 25 March 2019. In March 2018, Palestinians in Gaza initiated "[[2018–19 Gaza border protests|the Great March of Return]]," a series of weekly protests along the Gaza–Israel border.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47758369|title=Gaza protests: Thousands mark 'Great Return' anniversary|work=[[BBC News]]|date=30 March 2019|access-date=25 July 2019|archive-date=12 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812201436/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47758369|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[COVID-19 pandemic in Israel|COVID-19 pandemic]] began [[COVID-19 pandemic in Israel|in Israel]] with the first case detected in February 2020 and the first death being that of a Holocaust survivor in March 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Estrin |first1=Daniel |date=21 March 2020 |title=Holocaust Survivor Is First Coronavirus Death In Israel |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/21/819541569/holocaust-survivor-is-first-coronavirus-death-in-israel |website=NPR |language=en}}</ref> [[Israel Shield]] was the government's program to combat against the virus. [[COVID-19 lockdowns|Nationwide lockdowns]] and [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|mask mandates]] were present throughout the country for much of 2020 into 2021, with the [[COVID-19 vaccination in Israel|vaccination campaign]] beginning in December 2020 along with [[Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic|green passes]].<ref>{{cite web |date=7 April 2020 |title=Passover closure comes into effect, with all intercity travel banned |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/passover-closure-comes-into-effect-with-all-intercity-travel-banned/ |access-date=7 April 2020 |work=The Times of Israel}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=5 July 2020 |title=Government orders closure of event halls, culture venues, gyms and nightclubs |agency=The Times of Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=28 February 2021 |title=Everything you need to know about Israel's green passport program |work=The Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-israels-green-passport-program-659437|first=Maayan |last=Jaffe-Hoffman}}</ref>

In late 2020, Israel normalised relations with four Arab League countries: the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in September (known as the [[Abraham Accords]]),<ref>{{Cite news|last=Liebermann|first=Oren|date=September 16, 2020|title=Two Gulf nations recognized Israel at the White House. Here's what's in it for all sides|work=[[CNN]]|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/15/politics/israel-uae-bahrain-white-house-analysis-intl/index.html|access-date=15 December 2020|archive-date=16 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916112137/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/15/politics/israel-uae-bahrain-white-house-analysis-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Israel–Sudan normalization agreement|Sudan in October]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hansler|first=Jennifer|date=October 23, 2020|title=Trump announces that Israel and Sudan have agreed to normalize relations|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/23/politics/trump-sudan-israel/index.html|access-date=2020-12-15|website=CNN|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115061438/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/23/politics/trump-sudan-israel/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Israel–Morocco normalization agreement|Morocco in December]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 11, 2020|title=Morocco latest country to normalise ties with Israel in US-brokered deal|work=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55266089|access-date=December 15, 2020|archive-date=10 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210222449/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55266089|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2021, after tensions escalated in Jerusalem, Israel launched [[Operation Guardian of the Walls]], trading blows with Hamas for eleven days.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 22, 2021|title=Israel-Gaza ceasefire holds despite Jerusalem clash|work=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57195537|access-date=May 26, 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525215311/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57195537|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[2019–2022 Israeli political crisis|2019–2022 political crisis]] featured political instability in Israel leading to five elections to the Knesset over a 4-year time period. The [[April 2019 Israeli legislative election|April 2019]] and [[September 2019 Israeli legislative election|September 2019]] elections saw no party able to form a coalition leading to the [[2020 Israeli legislative election|March 2020]] election.<ref name="Holmes-2019">{{cite news |last=Holmes |first=Oliver |date=21 October 2019 |title=Benjamin Netanyahu tells Israeli president he cannot form government |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/21/israels-benjamin-netanyahu-fails-to-form-government |via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> This election again looked to result in deadlock, but due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, Netanyahu, and [[Blue and White (political alliance)|Blue and White]] leader, [[Benny Gantz]], were able to establish a [[Thirty-fifth government of Israel|unity government]] with a planned rotating prime ministership where Netanyahu would serve first and later be replaced by Gantz.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 April 2020 |title=Israel's Netanyahu and Gantz sign unity government deal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52358479 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422231635/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52358479 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |access-date=24 April 2020 |website=[[BBC]]}}</ref> The coalition failed by December due to a dispute over the budget and new elections were called for March 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wootliff |first=Raoul |title=Israel calls 4th election in 2 years as Netanyahu-Gantz coalition collapses |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-calls-4th-election-in-2-years-as-netanyahu-gantz-coalition-collapses/ |access-date=23 December 2020 |website=[[The Times of Israel]]}}</ref>