Arab-Israeli Conflict: Foreign Support


Figure 1.--American support has been vital for both the creation and continuation of Israel. It was a first mostly private groups aiding Israel. Retalitcely smll amounts of aid had a signigican imact as the Arab oil states were just beginning todevelop their oil industries. Here an American movie star is publicizing the refugee problem in 1950. By this time the Arabs were driving Jews out of their countries, many came to Isrrael. Yemeni Arabs began attacking Jews (1947-48). Israel helped organize Operation Magic Carpet to save Yemeni Jews (1949-50). The press caption read, "Eddie Cantor in Israel: American comedian Eddie Cantor makes friends with a youngster newly-arrived from Yemen, at the Pardessyah Immigrant Receoption Camp. The camp is maintained through funds raised by the United Jewish Appeal, of which Cantor is the U.S. National Chairman. The famous nanjo-eyed commedian made his first visut to Israel to study immigration and settlement needs." The photograph was dated June 19, 1950. Significant military aid did not begin until after the Six Days war when the Frint Line States (especially Egypt, Iraq, and Syria embraced the Soviet Union as Cold War partners.

American support has been vital for both the creation and continuation of Israel. The United States has not been the only country supporting Israel, but has been by far the most important. This is interesting given the substantial level of anti-Semetic feeling in America. Much of this was disapated by World War II and the NAZI Holocaust. Suddenly anti-Semitism was no longer acceptable in polite society. American Jewish groups were particularly important in the early years. The lead agency was the United Jewish Appeal. They strongly supported Israel and were an important source of funds. They helped make possible efforts like Ooperation Magic Carpet to sabe Yemeni Jews (figure 1). There was considerable political support, not only among Jews, but many other groups, including liberals, blacks, and women. Presiden Truman had provided diplomatic support, but not direct economic or military assistance. There was indirect American aid through the United Nations, primarily UNRAA. Most of this aid went toward the Palestinians, including some Isreali aid. The focus on Palestinian refugees continued even when large numbers of Jewish refugees began streaming in from Arab countries. This was because of the differences in Isreli and Arab policies. The Israelis attempted to get refugees out of camps and assisimlate them as rapidly as possible. The Arabs on the other hand kept the refugees in camps, even with Palestine and to discourage assimilation. We are just beginning to develop details on American aid to Israel . The first direct aid we know of was a $65 million long-term loan to help Displaced Persons (DPs) (1951). By this time most of the refugees arrivig in Israel were from Arab countries. Later the United States provided guarantees for commercial loans to help a million Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union (1990s). Israel has notably repaid these humanitarian loans in full, while many other nations have defaulted on such loans. American assistance which would reach substantial levels began later. There was no military support during the Truman Administration (1945-53). This began to change, but only slightly during the Eisenhower Administration (1953-61). A major factor was the Cold War and the decision by Egyptian Presudent Nasser to turn to the Soviets for support. Other Arab countries (SYria and Iraq) also turned to the Soviets. The United States provided Israel limited amounts of economic aid, mostly as loans for basic food stuffs. Much more important was German war reparations, which Israel were used for domestic development. France was Israel's main arms supplier (1950s). The French provided Israel advanced military equipment and technology, especially aircraft. This was vital because Israel did not have the capability of building advnced fighter jets and the Soviets began supplying he Arabs with advanced aircraft. This support was used by Israel to counter the perceived threat from Egypt under President Gamal Abdel Nasser as a result of the Czech arms deal (September 1955). American policy at the time was focused on preventing Nasser from joining the Soviet Bloc. The United States attempted to remain neutral and not to become too closely allied with Israel. Government assistance was limited to food aid. This finally began to change with the Kennedy Administration (early-1960s). The United States began selling advanced, defensive, weapons to Israel, Egypt and Jordan, most importantly Hawk anti aircraft missiles. The Johnson Administration decisively shifted American policy. American policy became to substantially support Isreal militarily, but American support was not unquestioning. Until the Six-Day War, the United States attempted to deal even handely with Israel and the Arabs (1967). Support for Israel became a central feature of the American foreign aid budget.

America

American support has been vital for both the creation and continuation of Israel. The United States has not been the only country supporting Israel, but has been by far the most important. This is interesting given the substantial level of anti-Semetic feeling in America. Much of this was disapated by World War II and the NAZI Holocaust. Suddenly anti-Semitism was no longer acceptable in polite society. American Jewish groups were particularly important in the early years. The lead agency was the United Jewish Appeal. They strongly supported Israel and were an important source of funds. They helped make possible efforts like Ooperation Magic Carpet to sabe Yemeni Jews (figure 1). There was considerable political support, not only among Jews, but many other groups, including liberals, blacks, and women. Presiden Truman had provided diplomatic support, but not direct economic or military assistance. We are just beginning to develop details on American aid to Israel . The first direct aid we know of was a $65 million long-term loan to help Displaced Persons (DPs) (1951). By this time most of the refugees arrivig in Israel were from Arab countries. Later the United States provided guarantees for commercial loans to help a million Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union (1990s). Israel has notably repaid these humanitarian loans in full, while many other nations have defaulted on such loans. American assistance which would reach substantial levels began later. There was no military support during the Truman Administration (1945-53). This began to change, but only slightly during the Eisenhower Administration (1953-61). A major factor was the Cold War and the decision by Egyptian President Nasser to turn to the Soviets for support. Other Arab countries (SYria and Iraq) also turned to the Soviets. The United States provided Israel limited amounts of economic aid, mostly as loans for basic food stuffs. American policy at the time was focused on preventing Nasser from joining the Soviet Bloc. The United States attempted to remain neutral and not to become too closely allied with Israel. Government assistance was limited to food aid. This finally began to change with the Kennedy Administration (early-1960s). The United States began selling advanced, defensive, weapons to Israel, Egypt and Jordan, most importantly Hawk anti aircraft missiles. The Johnson Administration decisively shifted American policy. American policy became to substantially support Isreal militarily, but American support was not unquestioning. Until the Six-Day War, the United States attempted to deal even handely with Israel and the Arabs (1967). Support for Israel became a central feature of the American foreign aid budget.

Britain


Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia was vital as a source of weapons during the First Arab-Isreali War (1948-49). Avia using World War II assembly lines the Germans set up provided badly needed aircraft to Israel. We do not yet have detailed on the Czech sales. They seem to have been straight commercial purchases. Avia was in a position to deliver aircraft almost immdiately after Israel declared independence.

France

France was Israel's main arms supplier (1950s). The French provided Israel advanced military equipment and technology, especially aircraft. This was vital because Israel did not have the capability of building advnced fighter jets and the Soviets began supplying the Arabs with advanced airctaft. This support was used by Israel to counter the perceived threat from Egypt under President Gamal Abdel Nasser as a result of the Czech Arms Deal (September 1955). The French sales seem to be primarily commercial purchases rather than foreign policy initatives, but we do not yet have full details. Eventually France termibated these sales, bowing to Arab pressure. As acresult, the IAF began shifting from French aircraft like the Mirage which was crucual in the Six Days War to American F4 Phatoms.

Germany

Much more important than early Anerican Government assistance was German war reparations, which Israel were used for domestic development. This all came from West Germany.

Soviet Union


United Nations

There was indirect American aid through the United Nations, primarily the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA). Most of this aid went toward the Palestinians, including some Isreali aid. The focus on Palestinian refugees continued even when large numbers of Jewish refugees began streaming in from Arab countries. This was because of the differences in Isreli and Arab policies. The Israelis attempted to get refugees out of camps and assisimlate them as rapidly as possible. The Arabs on the other hand kept the refugees in camps, even with Palestine and to discourage assimilation. Arab motivation seems to have been a combination of preserving jobs for nationa and fireign policy objectives. They wanted to paint Israel as an agressor, even though the War resulted from Arab invasions and rejection of the U.N. Partition Plan which Israel accepted. Keeping the Palistinians in camps proved to be aseful propaganda asset. If they had been allowed to assimilate with the general population this propaganda assett would have been lost. As a result, Palestunian refugee camps still exist--the oldest refugeee camps in history.







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Created: 12:17 AM 4/8/2013
Last updated: 12:17 AM 4/8/2013