Events in the year 1996 in Israel. Incumbents President of Israel – Ezer Weizman Prime Minister of Israel – Shimon Peres (Israeli Labor Party) until 18 June, Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) starting 18 June President of the Supreme Court – Aharon Barak Chief of General Staff – Amnon Lipkin-Shahak Government of Israel – 26th Government of Israel until 18 June, 27th Government of Israel Events 10 January – King Hussein of Jordan arrives for his first visit in Tel Aviv. 26 January – Israel gives $400,000 to the widow of a Moroccan waiter who was mistakenly identified as Ali Hassan Salameh and killed in Norway, 1973, in the Lillehammer affair. 19 February – Israel successfully test fires its Arrow-2 anti-ballistic missile. 27 March – Yigal Amir, assassin of Yitzhak Rabin, sentenced to life in prison. 28 March – Shamgar Commission report published. 11 April – Operation Grapes of Wrath: The Israeli government launches the Operation, consisting of massive attacks on Lebanon, in retaliation for prior terrorist attacks, and sparking off a violent series of retaliations. 13 April – Israeli helicopter fires rockets at an ambulance in Mansouri, Lebanon, killing 2 women and 4 children. 16 April – Israel strikes a civilian house in Nabatieh Fawka, Lebanon, killing 9 people, including 7 children. 18 April – Over a hundred Lebanese civilians who had taken refuge to escape the fighting are killed at the village of Qana when Israeli artillery shelled the area of a UN compound near Qana while firing at members of Hezbollah. 27 April – Operation Grapes of Wrath: The conflict de-escalated following a ceasefire agreement banning attacks on civilians. 30 May – The Likud Party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, wins a narrow victory in the Israeli general election. 18 June – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presents his cabinet for a Knesset "Vote of Confidence". The 27th Government is approved that day and the members were sworn in. 5 November – Israeli Druze Azzam Azzam is arrested in Egypt on suspicion of spying for Israel. Later on, a military court in Cairo sentenced Azzam Azzam to 15 years imprisonment with hard labor. 30 December – Netanyahu proposed budget cuts, sparking protests from 250,000 workers, who went on strikes across Israel. Israeli–Palestinian conflict The most prominent events related to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict which occurred during 1996 include: 24 April – After a two-day meeting in Gaza City the PNC adopts two