Israel may only be 70 years old, but the country has already experienced enough milestone events to last a lifetime. No stranger to adversity and conflict, Israel and its citizens have persevered, channeling their energy towards creating a peaceful, innovative and fulfilling homeland for future generations. But which moments in Israeli history stand out as particularly memorable? Here are 5 landmark events you will be sure to remember forever.

1948 – Establishment of the State

After nearly 2,000 years of hopes and dreams by the Jewish people, the State of Israel was proclaimed on May 14th, 1948, fulfilling the promises made in the Balfour Declaration, 31 years earlier. The Establishment of the State of Israel created a much needed and appreciated sanctuary state for Jews, who desperately sought refuge in the aftermath of the Holocaust, inspiring a renewed sense of faith in the world and enabling a tremendous population of survivors and refugees to feel at home – physically, emotionally and spiritually.

1967 – Unification of Jerusalem, following the Six Day War

In June of 1967, years of terror attacks led the Israeli government to reach a boiling point, when an aerial incident between Israel and Syria took place, in which 6 Syrian MiGs were intercepted and Egypt, Syria and Jordan intentionally provoked Israel into launching what would become known as the Six Day War. Young Israel came out victorious. Though the Holy Land suffered over 700 casualties and 25,000 injuries, the country was tripled in size and gained sovereignty over its Arab population. Among the plunders – Jerusalem’s Old City and the Western Wall.

1977 – Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty

During a dramatic visit to Jerusalem by the Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1977, a peace agreement was reached between Egypt and Israel. In the first and most important of the agreements between Israel and its neighboring countries, Israel agreed to give the demilitarized Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, in exchange for recognition of the Jewish State. Officially signed two years later, in 1979, by Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, the peace treaty has lasted to this very day.

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1993 – Oslo Accords

In September of 1993, a solution to bring the Israeli-Palestinian Arab conflict to an end was finally proposed, in the form of an interim agreement signed between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) at the White House. And though no permanent solution to end the conflict has been reached in the years since, the agreement served as a significant milestone for all parties involved, including US President Bill Clinton, who served as the witness of the historic signing event.

2005 – Gaza disengagement

Spearheaded by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the disengagement was meant to create distance between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, enabling a safer daily life for those living near the Gaza Strip, as well as serving as a peaceful gesture aimed at driving peace in the Middle East. Till this day it’s unclear if this decision will prove to be good or bad for the area.