The United States’ Relationship to Israel During the Cold War

The United States and Israel have always shared a passion for democracy. Both countries had similar foundations, established by a majority of immigrants claiming to create a better society, towards religious tolerance and democratic ideas. In 1948, both the United States and the Soviet Union immediately recognized the State of Israel. During a era where these two nations often fought against on another to claim a majority in support and power for either ideologies, the United States, firmly recognized but limited their support for Israel due to it’s alliances with Arab countries in the region and the growing demand for oil in the region.

Many believed that Jews deserved a sanctuary after the horrors that occurred during the Holocaust, the establishment of Israel was therefore greatly supported by President Truman and his legal counsel, Clark Clifford. Some believed this support, was just a scheme to get Jewish votes and that recognizing Israel might endanger United States’ access to Arab oil. Although, Truman and Clifford strongly endorsed the US recognition, much of the United States government, including the State Department, the Defense Department and the CIA, worried about the Israeli declaration of independence. Critics like John Snetsinger, repeated this belief ad nausea. Truman faced an election year, which prompted him a need in the Jewish support, which an overwhelmingly majority were Jews rather than Arabs. Benson, an analyst from the University of Utah, believed that Truman’s pro-Israel outlook “was based prompted on humanitarian, moral, and sentimental grounds, many of which were an outgrowth of the president’s religious upbringing and his familiarity with the Bible”. Truman recognized the influence of the Zion...

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