American support for the Jewish state has been in existence since the birth of America.
- Jon Adams wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, stating “I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize man than any other nation”
- President Lincoln talked about the return of Jews to Palestine being “noble dream…one shared by many Americans”
In 1919, President Wilson expressed his support for the Balfour Declaration, leading his successors to continue similar support for Zionists
- Congressional resolutions of 1922 and 1944 unanimously passes endorsement of the Balfour Declaration, 85% of population at the time adopted resolutions favoring creation of a Jewish state in Palestine, and Governors of 37 states, 54 United States senators, and 250 congressmen signed petitions regarding this issue
1948: America was the first country to grant de facto recognition to the new Jewish state (11 minutes after proclamation)
Conflicts That Arose
- After WWII American policy toward a Jewish State became more active - The country started pressuring Great Britain to allow refugees into Palestine
- The Truman administration faced serious conflict during the Cold War:
- Alienating the Arab States could create economic turmoil in
addition to the opportunity for Soviet influence abroad
- Truman's decision to recognize the State of Israel faced serious
opposition in his administration, but he set a precedent for future
presidents regarding America's relationship with Israel
*American opinion was not always in favor of a Jewish State. Even before the rise of Anti-semitism, many Americans considered the alliance with Israel to be nothing but a nuisance
- Kennedy's administration's high involvement in the Middle East
helped strengthen Pro-Israel sentiment
