Faithful Allies: The Religious Roots of America’s Unwavering Support for Israel
The re-establishment of Israel in the modern era is an unprecedented event in history—a nation reborn after centuries of dispersion. The aftermath of World War II, with the painful memories of the Holocaust still raw, acted as a catalyst for this momentous event. This chapter delves into the events and global dynamics that culminated in the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948.
The Balfour Declaration and British Mandate
The foundations for a modern Jewish state began with the Balfour Declaration in 1917, in which the British government expressed its support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. Post World War I, Britain received a mandate from the League of Nations to administer Palestine and, by extension, implement the promise of the Balfour Declaration.
Jewish Immigration and Arab Opposition
Throughout the British Mandate, Jewish immigration to Palestine increased, driven by Zionist aspirations and escalating persecution in Europe. With the rise of Nazism in the 1930s, the urgency for a Jewish homeland became even more palpable. However, the local Arab population viewed this influx with deep suspicion and resentment. Arab opposition to Jewish immigration and land purchase led to periodic Arab-Jewish clashes.
The Holocaust: A Grim Catalyst
World War II’s horrors heightened the urgency for a Jewish homeland. The extermination of six million Jews in the Holocaust was a somber reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by the Jewish diaspora. The plight of Jewish Displaced Persons (DPs) in post-war Europe and their desire to emigrate to Palestine added pressure on the international community to resolve the Palestine question.
United Nations Partition Plan
The growing tensions and Britain’s inability to find a solution to the Jewish-Arab conflict led them to hand the issue over to the newly formed United Nations. In 1947, the UN proposed a partition plan that would divide Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as an international city. The Jewish leadership accepted the plan, seeing it as a pragmatic step toward realizing the Zionist dream. However, the Arab states and Palestinian leadership rejected the proposal, refusing to accept the legitimacy of a Jewish state on what they considered solely Arab land.
Declaration of the State of Israel and Immediate Recognition
On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. This declaration came a day before the British Mandate was set to expire. Hours later, the United States, under President Harry S. Truman, became the first country to recognize Israel, followed shortly by the Soviet Union.
War and Sovereignty
The jubilation of the Jewish community was short-lived. The very next day, armies from five Arab states—Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq—invaded the nascent Jewish state. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the War of Independence, ensued. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Israel managed to not only defend its territory but also expand it. By the time armistice agreements were signed in 1949, Israel had solidified its existence, albeit with borders that remained contentious.
In conclusion, the establishment of Israel post-World War II was the culmination of decades of Jewish effort, hope, and tragedy. It was a testament to the perseverance of a people who, after facing millennia of persecution, sought refuge and renewal in their ancestral homeland. The shadows of the Holocaust and the promise of Zionism converged, giving birth to a nation whose existence would remain at the heart of Middle Eastern geopolitics.