Around the World – David Ben-Gurion's Foreign Policy “Independence is not just a political matter. Independence is an intellectual and moral matter. We are free and we think for ourselves, judge for ourselves, and see things as we see them, not as we are commanded to see them… We are dependent on the world, on great nations and small nations, and by being dependent on the world, we are free for ourselves.” Ben-Gurion, October 1948 From the early days of the Jewish settlement period and the founding of the state, one of the central challenges facing the Zionist leadership was the absorption of Jewish immigrants in the Land of Israel, along with securing the resources needed for their support, developing Israeli society and ensuring the state’s security amid regional threats. David Ben-Gurion’s foreign policy reflected these priorities, focusing on international recognition, access to essential resources, and the formation of strategic alliances. His global relations are also reflected in the collection of objects he received during his public life, displayed throughout his home. These items, arranged thematically, represent diplomacy, culture, and society, each telling a broader story of Israel’s place in the world.
From the days of the Jewish settlement period and later as a newly established state, one of the greatest challenges facing the Zionist leadership was absorbing Jewish immigrants into the Land of Israel. Over time, additional urgent needs emerged: securing the resources required to support immigration, developing Israeli society, and safeguarding the state against threats from neighboring Arab countries.
To address these challenges, David Ben-Gurion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs operated on three main levels:
Diplomatic Recognition: From the outset, the Zionist movement understood that a state could not be established without international support. Ahead of the UN vote on November 29, emissaries were sent worldwide to rally support for the Partition Plan. After the establishment of the State of Israel, efforts focused on securing diplomatic recognition from as many countries as possible.
Resources: Historically, the Land of Israel maintained trade relations with various regions due to its access to the sea. After the establishment of the state, the need for immediate material resources became critical. . Israel therefore developed trade and commercial ties with countries around the world to support immigration, infrastructure, and national development.
Strategic Military Alliances:Security was a central priority from the very beginning. As early as 1947, Ben-Gurion recognized the need for strategic alliances to strengthen Israel’s position against Arab states. Building economic and social resilience required a parallel effort to address military threats and ensure long-term security.
Israel’s Relations with Sub-Saharan Africa
During the 1960s, as many Central and Sub-Saharan African countries gained independence, Israel developed strong and positive relations with them. However, these ties were later severed following the Yom Kippur War under pressure from Arab states.
Israel’s interest in Africa stemmed from diplomatic support in international forums, the creation of strategic regional partnerships, and extensive trade opportunities. African countries, in turn, sought Israeli expertise in agriculture, military development, infrastructure, and water management’ particularly in challenging climates and arid regions. Israel’s lack of colonial history also made cooperation politically acceptable for many of these newly independent states.
Israel signed trade agreements with around twenty African countries, exporting and importing goods such as diamonds, uranium, and technological products. It also provided assistance in agriculture, medicine, security, and industrial development. Israeli companies such as Solel Boneh, Mekorot and Zim were active across the continent. These partnerships also led to political support for Israel in international forums, including the United Nations.
Israel’s Relations with the Soviet Union
Initially, the Soviet Union viewed Zionism as an imperialist movement and persecuted Zionist organizations within its borders. However, by the end of the British Mandate, Soviet policy shifted. In 1947, the Soviet representative at the UN supported the Partition Plan, partly in hopes that Israel would align with the Eastern Bloc and to weaken British influence in the Middle East.
In May 1948, the Soviet Union recognized the State of Israel, appointed Pavel Yershov as its diplomatic representative, and supported Israel’s admission to the United Nations. It also rejected claims that Israel had violated UN resolutions and described it as a peace-seeking state aligned with UN principles.
After the War of Independence, relations gradually cooled. Under Ben-Gurion’s leadership, Israel adopted a clearly pro-Western orientation. Anti-Jewish campaigns in the USSR including the Prague Trials and the Doctors’ Plot, deepened tensions and alarmed Israeli public opinion.
On February 9, 1953, an attack on the Soviet embassy led the USSR to sever diplomatic relations with Israel. The decision caused serious concern in Israel, both regarding its international standing and the fate of Jews living in the Soviet Union.
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Israel’s Relations with East Asia
In Israel’s early years, diplomatic efforts in Asia focused mainly on India and China. India recognized Israel in 1950, although relations remained limited. In the same year, Israel recognized the People’s Republic of China and supported its admission to the United Nations. However, the Bandung Conference in 1955 hindered further development of ties with these countries.
Arab political pressure, combined with the large number of Muslim and communist states in Asia, complicated Israel’s diplomatic position. Nevertheless, after the 1956 Suez Crisis (The Sinai Campaign), Israel expanded its presence in Asia through trade and cooperation. The port of Eilat became a key gateway for exports to the region.
By the early 1960s, Israel had established diplomatic missions in countries including Burma, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Nepal, Cambodia, Laos and India. Israeli aid programs expanded significantly, with students from across Asia coming to Israel to study agriculture, water management, food security, and national development.
Despite these successes, Israel’s exclusion from Asian sports organizations reflected its broader political challenges. From the 1950s, Israeli teams participated in Asian competitions, but by the 1960s they were increasingly excluded. In 1974, the Asian Football Confederation formally barred Israel from competitions.
Israel’s Relations with Western Countries
Following World War II and during the Cold War, Israel aligned cautiously with the United States and Western Bloc countries. The United States was the first country to recognize Israel, and by the late 1940s most Western countries had followed, except Spain and Greece.
Western states sought diplomatic, economic, and military cooperation with Israel Even during the Mandate period, Jewish communities maintained trade relations with Scandinavian countries, which resumed after World War II.
A major diplomatic milestone was the 1952 reparations agreement with West Germany. While seen as economically necessary, . it sparked intense public controversy within Israel.
Militarily, Israel initially faced an arms embargo from the United States and turned to European countries for support . In 1955, a weapons deal was signed with France, and in 1961 Israel exported Uzi submachine guns to the Netherlands.
Over time, geopolitical shifts in the Middle East improved relations with the United States and the United Kingdom. In 1956, coordination between Israel and Britain contributed to the launch of the Sinai Campaign (Operation Kadesh). The collapse of the Baghdad Pact further strengthened Israel’s strategic importance to the United States in the region.
The Periphery Doctrine
Israel’s Periphery Doctrine was a diplomatic strategy aimed at building alliances with non-Arab states in the Middle East. It was based on the understanding that the Arab–Israeli conflict was political rather than religious and sought to counter regional opposition by strengthening ties with countries on the region’s margins. Key partners included Turkey, Iran, Ethiopia, rebel groups in southern Sudan, and Kurdish communities across the Middle East.
Turkey and Iran, both regional rivals of Arab states, maintained diplomatic relations with Israel in the early years of statehood. Israel assisted both countries in industrial and military development, while Iran supplied oil even during periods of conflict. Ethiopia also developed close ties with Israel, including agricultural cooperation and alleged intelligence-related activity.
Israel’s Relations with Latin America
Most Central and South American countries supported the UN Partition Plan in 1947 and were among the first to recognize Israel after its establishment. Nicaragua became the fourth country to recognize Israel, after the United States, the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia. Panama notably broke the U.S. embargo during the War of Independence by supplying arms to Israel.
Relations continued to develop through trade and diplomacy. Israel imported agricultural products and coffee from Brazil while exporting olive oil. Strong ties were also built with Uruguay and Argentina, particularly through their large Jewish communities.
In 1963, Ecuador announced the establishment of a Nahal unit for agricultural training as part of military service, leading to exchange programs between the two countries. Alongside these positive relations, Israel was also aware that Nazi war criminals had fled to parts of Latin America after the Holocaust and sought international cooperation in efforts to bring them to justice.
