Recurrent violent attempts to eradicate the Jews birthed the modern Zionist movement. Jews began to flee Eastern Europe to escape the Czar's oppression and pogroms in the late 1800s. After the devastating genocide of World War II, the broken people searched for a homeland. Many found retreat in Palestine where they identified with several thousand years of ancient history. Out of the ashes of the Holocaust, the concept of the state of Israel, a homeland for the Jewish people, was conceived.
Despite a seemingly palpable notion to give the trodden people a refuge from the prejudice and persecution that still penetrated Europe, the British made it increasingly challenging for Jews to immigrate from the danger. In 1942, Zionist leader David Ben Gurion overtly declared to the world the intention to make Palestine the Jewish homeland, so as to ensure free Jewish immigration. Heavy British and Arab opposition severely obstructed the efforts.
On November 29, 1947, the General Assembly held a special session at Lake Success in New York to draw up a partition, known as Resolution 181, of the British-ruled Palestinian Mandate into a Jewish state and an Arab state. At the time, the world minus the Palestinians and Arabs were in total favor of the state of Israel. The British leaned toward the side of the Palestinians for fear of loss of oil. When asked about the same issue, President Truman responded, “I will handle this problem not in the light of oil, but in the light of justice.”
May 14, 1948 marks the much objected to establishment of the State of Israel. The dawning of the second half of the twentieth century has been stamped with the blood and turmoil characteristic of the region that has yet to cease. Despite profound resistance to her very existence, Israel has valiantly pulled her way to the surface of the global playing field. As the years have passed by, international opinion has shifted toward an anti-Israel stance. The United Nations has consistently leaned on the side opposed to Israel, with the United States being the only country to consistently support the tiny nation.
Since her birth, the United States has played a key role in supporting the State of Israel, the only democracy in a region governed primarily by totalitarianism. However, despite the strong relationship the countries maintain currently, the United States first held Israel at an arm's length and progressively drew it under her wing. “Over a period of time, this has come to rest on deep-seated factors, including historical memory, Judeo-Christian values, the Holocaust, societal ties, strategic interests and the tenacity of Israel.”
The global playing field of the UN is a tangible demonstration of America's clear support of Israel, despite the majority of worldwide opposition. Ninety seven of the hundred seventy five Security Council resolutions concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict have been against Israel, with the majority of others remaining neutral. Only four have been against the Arab nations. Resolution 194, one of the only ones to be in favor of Israel concerning the Jews' “right to return” to Israel, was passed by the General Assembly, therefore not binding.
David Ben Gurion, the first Israeli prime minister, declared Israel's statehood publicly to the world just after her emergence in 1948. President Truman emphatically broadcasted America's recognition of Israel as a state, despite Secretary of State George Marshall's opposition. Truman announced “I had faith in Israel before it was established, I have in it now. I believe it has a glorious future before it-not just another sovereign nation, but as an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization.” Within hours of its emergence, the little fledgling country was under attack from the surrounding Arab nations of Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon.
The United States, United Nations and Soviet Union publicly reprimanded the Arab's infiltration into Palestine. After unceasing violent warfare throughout the year, the Rhodes Armistice was signed. The establishment of the Green Line as part of the armistice agreements secured Israeli control of the land it was promised, allowing them now to focus on forging the state's identity in the global setting. The United States had already become fundamental to Israel's structure by providing economic assistance to build, industrialize and enhance communication and technological systems.
The first direct political involvement of the United States in the violent current of the Middle East occurred on November 2nd, 1956 during the Suez Crisis. Earlier that year, Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser antagonistically privatized the Suez Canal, cutting off Israel's sole connection to the Red Sea by closing the Strait of Tiran and threatening British and French oil trading conduits. The three countries collectively schemed to subjugate the canal from Nasser. Israel kept its promise and invaded the Sinai Peninsula on October 29th, supposedly to be followed by alleviating defensive British and French troops at the canal. However, the United States threatened to withhold loans to Britain, forcing Britain to renege on her agreement, and
immediately proposed a resolution at the UN that insisted on Israel's withdrawal. A year later, the United States' request pulled through.
