Posted on 05/15/2009 4:05:33 PM PDT by Shellybenoit
The first country to recognize the State of Israel was the United States. That recognition almost didn't happen. It was by the will of the President, Harry Truman, that the UN Partition Plan was implemented. Throughout the months leading up to May 1948, the president made his wishes clear, he wanted a Homeland for the Jewish People, not because of political reasons, but because it was the right and moral thing to do.
The Secretary of State who Truman called the greatest living American, was just as opposed to the creation of the nascent Jewish state as the president supported it it. Officials in the State Department had done everything in their power to prevent, thwart, or delay the President's Palestine policy in 1947 and 1948 (some things NEVER change). The President's policy eventually won out because it rested on the realities of the situation in the region, on America's moral, ethical, and humanitarian values, on the costs and risks inherent in any other course, and on America's national interests. Clark M. Clifford served as Special Counsel to President Truman from 1946 to 1950 and fought with the president regarding Israel and against the State Department. Below is Clifford's retelling of the story of America's Recognition of Israel:
(Excerpt) Read more at yidwithlid.blogspot.com ...
Interesting stuff. Thanks.
I am sure I have read more than once that the Soviet Union was the first state to recognize Israel. It always stuck in my mind as they were supporting Israel’s enemies not long after.
Long but interesting and informative! +1
The U.S. was the first government to recognize israel, but only recognized it as the "de facto" government. The Russians didn't act until 3 days later, but they were the first to recognize Israel as the "de jure" government.
It always stuck in my mind as they were supporting Israel's enemies not long after.
The Soviets did support Israel in the early days, because the Arabs were then American allies and the Russians saw Israel as a potential ally in the region. The Russians (and all of the Soviet-block nations) voted in favor of the 1947 U.N. resolution which had called for the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, and Czechoslovakia, then a Russian sattelite, was the only foreign government to sell arms to Israel during the 1948-49 war. The Russian position, of course, didn't last long.
Fascinating read.
Thanks for the post.
The Secretary of State who Truman called the greatest living American, was just as opposed to the creation of the nascent Jewish state as the president supported it it. Officials in the State Department had done everything in their power to prevent, thwart, or delay the President's Palestine policy in 1947 and 1948 (some things NEVER change). The President's policy eventually won out because it rested on the realities of the situation in the region, on America's moral, ethical, and humanitarian values, on the costs and risks inherent in any other course, and on America's national interests. Clark M. Clifford served as Special Counsel to President Truman from 1946 to 1950 and fought with the president regarding Israel and against the State Department.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.