17th February 1978

The Jerusalem Post carried an article saying that the Voice of Peace may have to close at the end of the month because money was running out.

25th February 1978

Abie Nathan asked listeners to join him in Tel Aviv for a farewell rally and over 60,000 people turned up. This went some way to convincing advertisers of the station's large listenership and  many companies enquired about advertising, so it was decided that  the station should remain on the air.

14th May 1978  

Abie Nathan started a hunger strike to try and get Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to make some moves towards creating a peace settlement.  

23rd June 1978  

Abie Nathan announced the Voice of Peace would close if no moves towards peace are made.

24th June 1978

The Voice of Peace closed at 6.30pm.  

25th June 1978  

The MV Peace was taken to Ashdod harbour. During the five hour journey a continuous tape was broadcast that said "We say give peace a chance".

26th June 1978

Abie Nathan now very weak from his hunger strike, visited the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, and  met various Ministers. As a result of their appeals to him he later decided to end the hunger strike .  

30th June 1978  

The Voice of Peace returned to the air

early July 1978

The Voice of Peace broadcast an hourly appeal for the "Children of Lebanon Appeal" which Abie Nathan had set up to provide medicines, toys and an ambulance for children in the war-torn city of Beirut, Lebanon. Once collected he planned to take the supplies to Beirut on board the Peace ship

7th August 1978

An hour after transmissions of the Voice of Peace had closed  the MV Peace sailed towards Ashdod where the supplies were loaded on board.

8th August 1978

The MV Peace left port heading towards Beirut. Transmissions from The Voice of Peace resumed once the ship was clear of the port area and continued throughout the day. At midnight normal  programmes were changed to tapes of Arabic music, with messages to the people of Lebanon saying they had essential supplies on board  and wanted to deliver them to Beirut. However, the ship lay at anchor for nearly two days, ignored by everyone.

12th August 1978

Disappointed at the apparent failure of his mission Abie Nathan announced that the MV Peace would leave the area the following day.

13th August  1978

Abie Nathan went on the air to condemn the authorities for refusing his aid, announcing that he would now take the supplies to a refugee camp in Cyprus.

14th August 1978

The MV Peace arrived in the port of Larnica, Cyprus where supplies were unloaded and taken to the refugee camp.

17th August 1978

The Peace ship returned to her Tel Aviv anchorage

28th November 1979

The MV Peace dragged her anchor in a storm and drifted to within a mile of the coast before the crew managed to bring the ship under control and prevent her beaching. Transmissions of the Voice of Peace were suspended for three days while some minor damage was repaired.