Between East and West: Israel's Foreign Policy Orientation 1948-1956

by Uri Bialer

Overview

Israel's political allegiance to the West is today unquestioned. In the early years after 1948, however, the direction of Israel's foreign policy remained uncertain. In this important book, Dr. Bialer describes the internal debates within the Israeli political parties, and particularly the highly ideological labor movement, on the choices among pro-Soviet, pro-Western or nonaligned foreign policies. Making use of recently declassified documents, the author has carried out extensive research in the State Archives and in other archives; his account is based overwhelmingly on primary sources. This book examines the ideological components of these debates as well as more material motivation factors: dependence on U.S. aid, trade links with the Soviet bloc, reliance on Czech arms supplies, and the degree of freedom allowed to the Soviet and East European Jewish communities to emigrate to Israel. Dr. Bialer concludes that there was no alternative strategy for Israel to adopt; the tilt towards the West was inevitable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521055352
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/21/2008
Series:	LSE Monographs in International Studies
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part I. The Internal Dimension: 1. The affiliation dilemma; 2. Publicism, inter-party politics and non-alignment; Part II. Red Star Over Zion: 3. 'Let my people go'; 4. The aliyah tie with Moscow; 5. The eastern European arena; 6. Trade with the Soviet Union; 7. Political cooperation; 8. The military dimension; Part III. The Western Connection: 9. The military and economic dimensions; 10. From neutrality to the search for a link; 11. Solidification of a Western orientation; 12. Failure of 'facts and pacts' policy; Epilogue: 'A people that dwells alone?'; Appendix I: U.N. voting record; Appendix II: biographical notes; Appendix III: Israel's votes at the U.N.; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"This book focuses, in great depth and with sharp historical-political insight, on the period of the emergence of the state of Israel and the formation of its foreign policy, from 1948 to the Sinai Campaign of 1956. It is an exceptionally innovative work, as well as a fascinating historical and scientific document...It has much to offer to all who are interested in the foreign policy of small states, in the politics of the Middle East, and in the relations of superpowers toward small states; and of course the book makes a great and essential contribution to research into Israeli foreign policy." Gad Barzilai, The Jerusalem Journal of International Relations

From the Publisher