The Birth of Israel, 1945-1949

by Heller, Joseph L.

• ISBN13: 9780813026473
• ISBN10: 0813026474
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-03-01
• Publisher: Univ Pr of Florida

Summary

Joseph Heller tells the story of the complex and often conflicting political calculations that led directly to the founding of the independent Jewish state of Israel in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust. Examining the positions of many competing parties, he explains how and why the charismatic David Ben-Gurion prevailed: by shrewdly maneuvering between radical extremes on the left and on the right, Ben-Gurion managed to steer a successful middle-of-the-road policy in favor of partition. Heller also describes the vital links between internal and external factors in the post-war Zionist movement. He places events in the context of wider Cold War calculations to explain why much of Israel's early military and diplomatic support came--surprisingly--from the Soviet Union, while the United States assumed a neutral position in order not to offend its British ally. In addition, Heller investigates early and ongoing conflicts with neighboring Arab nations for their influence on Israel's foundation. Through research in a range of archives, diplomatic protoc

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Chronology	xiii
Abbreviations	xviii
Introduction	1	(20)
Part I. The International Arena: The Policy of the Jewish Agency and Mapai
Rise of the American Orientation: From Humanitarian Aid to Political Recognition	21	(30)
Relationship with the Soviet Union: From Antagonism to Vital Aid	51	(22)
Part II. The Regional Arena: The Arab Question
Consolidation of Official Policy	73	(40)
Part III. The Internal Background of Zionist Foreign Policy
David Ben-Gurion, Mapai, and the Victory of Pragmatic Activism	113	(36)
Chaim Weizmann and the Collapse of the British Orientation: An Alternative to Activist Politics?	149	(12)
The Intellectuals: Ichud and the Politics of Binationalism	161	(20)
Aliyah Hadashah: Ideology and Practice of Nonviolent Zionism	181	(16)
Part IV. The Radical Left: Zionist Strategy and Marxist Tactics?
Hashomer Hatza'ir: From Binationalism to Federalism	197	(20)
Le'achdut Ha'avodah Movement: From the Integrity of ``Eretz Israel'' to Federalism	217	(12)
Mapam and the War of Independence: Test Case for an Ideological Party	229	(20)
Part V. The Radical Right
The Revisionist Party: A Zionist Sinn Fein?	249	(18)
Menachem Begin, IZL, and Herut: From Underground to Political Legitimacy	267	(15)
Conclusions	282	(13)
Appendix: The Debate on the ``New Historians''	295	(14)
Notes	309	(46)
Bibliography	355	(8)
Index	363