Yom Ha\u2019atzmaut, Israel\u2019s Independence Day, falls on April 23. In honor of the Jewish state\u2019s 67th birthday, we present, in no particular order, 10 little-known aspects of modern Israel\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
1. El Al used to fly to Tehran.<\/strong><\/p>\n Iran and Israel enjoyed mostly good relations up until the Islamic revolution that overthrew the shah in 1979. Iran recognized Israel in 1950, becoming the second Muslim-majority country to do so (after Turkey). Iran supplied Israel with oil during the OPEC oil embargo, Israel sold Iran weapons, there was brisk trade between the countries, and El Al flew regular flights between Tel Aviv and Tehran. All that ended a week after the shah\u2019s ouster, when Iran\u2019s new rulers cut ties with Israel and transferred its embassy in Tehran to the Palestine Liberation Organization.<\/p>\n Even after 35 years of hostilities, however, Iranians have less antipathy toward Jews than any other Middle Eastern nation. A 2014 global anti-Semitism survey by the Anti-Defamation League found that 56 percent of Iranians hold anti-Semitic views \u2014 compared to 80 percent of Moroccans and 93 percent of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. For more on Israelis in Iran, check out the 2014 documentary \u201cBefore the Revolution.\u201d<\/p>\n