תערוכת עבר – ” מסביב לעולם”

From the days of the Jewish settlement and later as a newly established state, the greatest challenge facing the Jewish leadership was absorbing Jewish immigrants into the Land of Israel. Later, the need arose to secure resources to support these immigrants, develop Israeli society, and protect the state’s existence from the threat of neighboring Arab countries

To this end, David Ben-Gurion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs operated on three levels:

Diplomatic Recognition – Early on, the Zionist movement recognized that a state could not be established without the support of the world’s nations. Ahead of the UN vote on November 29, Zionist emissaries were sent around the globe to persuade countries to support the Partition Plan. Following the establishment of the State of Israel, the government focused on securing diplomatic recognition from as many countries as possible.

Resources – Throughout history, trade relations existed between the Land of Israel and various regions of the world, due to its access to the sea. With the establishment of the State of Israel, the need for immediate material resources intensified. To meet this demand, Israel established trade and business relations with countries around the world.

Strategic Military Alliances – Security considerations have always been at the top of Israel’s priorities. As early as 1947, Ben-Gurion understood that in order to strengthen Israel and face the challenge posed by Arab states, it was necessary to establish various strategic alliances. To fortify Israel economically and socially, the defense system had to address multiple threats.

Israel’s Relations with Sub-Saharan Countries: Central Africa and South Africa

During the 1960s, as most countries in Central and South Africa gained independence, Israel enjoyed positive relations with them. However, these ties were abruptly severed after the Yom Kippur War due to pressure from Arab states. Israel’s interest in relations with African countries stemmed from their support in international forums, the creation of a security buffer around Arab states, and extensive trade relations. African countries, in turn, sought these partnerships to develop agriculture in desert conditions, build military industries, and gain assistance in coping with challenging climates and water scarcity. Israel’s non-colonial status allowed these nations to establish relations without fear of occupation.

Israel signed trade agreements with twenty countries, exporting and importing products including uranium, diamonds, and technological goods. It also provided assistance in agriculture, medicine, security, and industrial development. Israeli companies such as Solel Boneh, Mekorot, and Zim carried out various projects across Africa. These efforts achieved their goals, and African countries supported Israel in the United Nations.

Israel’s Relations with the Soviet Union

The Soviet state viewed Zionism as an imperialist movement threatening the international vision and persecuted members of Zionist organizations living within its borders. Soviet policy shifted toward the end of the British Mandate, and in 1947, the Soviet representative at the UN announced support for the Partition Plan. This change occurred because the Soviets hoped that Israel would align with the Eastern Bloc and because they sought to remove Britain from the Middle East. In May 1948, the Soviet Union recognized the State of Israel and appointed Pavel Yershov as its diplomatic representative. It also supported Israel’s admission to the UN, rejected claims that Israel had violated UN resolutions, and declared Israel a peace-loving state committed to the principles of the UN.

Following the end of the War of Independence, relations gradually began to cool. Under Ben-Gurion’s leadership, the Israeli government adopted a clearly pro-Western policy. Anti-Jewish propaganda in the Soviet Union reached its peak during two dramatic events—the Prague Trials and the Doctors’ Trial—causing unrest in Israeli public opinion. On February 9, 1953, an attack was carried out on the Soviet embassy, after which the USSR announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Israel. This move was met in Israel with grave concern, both for its international standing and for the fate of Jews living in the Soviet Union.

after death of Joseיf Stalin Diplomatic relations were restored.seיbetween the two countries, andIn July 1956, an oil agreement was signed in Moscow between Israel and the Soviet Union.
the soviet union.

the relations of Israel and East Asia

In Israel’s early years, diplomatic efforts in Asia focused mainly on India and China: in September 1950, India recognized Israel, but relations did not progress beyond that. In the same year, Israel recognized the People’s Republic of China and supported its admission to the United Nations. However, the Bandung Conference, held in April 1955, seemed to put an end to the establishment of relations between Israel and these two countries. Hostility from Arab countries posed a significant obstacle to improving Israel’s standing in Asia, due to the large number of Muslim and communist states, as well as cooperation with the three key countries on the continent – Japan, China, and India.

Nonetheless, in 1956, after the Suez Crisis (‘Operation Kadesh’), Israel managed to expand its diplomatic ties with Asia through trade relations. The port of Eilat connected Israel to Asia, serving as a route for exporting various goods and chemicals from Israel. By the end of 1960, Israeli diplomatic representatives were already operating in Burma, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, and India, including in Bombay. Israeli aid programs expanded, with students from many countries coming to Israel to study agriculture, water management, food security, and, of course, the management of the country’s security and military systems.

Despite these successes, the failed attempt to integrate into the sports arena in Asia also reflects Israel’s political standing. In the 1950s, the Israeli delegation participated in various games in Asia, but from the 1960s onward, Israel’s participation was gradually excluded. Increasingly, Arab sports organizations joined Asian sports federations and demanded Israel’s expulsion, until in September 1974, the Asian Football Confederation decided to bar Israel from the games held in Tehran.

the relations of Israel and the West banc countries

After the end of World War II and with the development of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and Western countries, Israel chose to cautiously side with the United States and the Western Bloc countries. The first to recognize the State of Israel was the U.S., and by the end of the 1940s, most other Western Bloc countries, except Spain and Greece, had also recognized the young state of Israel.

The Western Bloc countries were interested in establishing diplomatic relations, as well as economic and military cooperation with Israel. Even during the Mandate period, the Jewish community maintained trade relations with the Scandinavian countries; these ties were interrupted during World War II and resumed after the war ended.

Diplomatically, in September 1952, a reparations agreement was signed with West Germany. Israel understood that imposing a boycott on West Germany could hinder the development of foreign relations with other countries, and an agreement with it would fill the public treasury with much-needed funds. The signing of the agreement was accompanied by severe criticism from large segments of Israeli society.

Militarily, Israel sought an ally to stand by its side in the event of combat with the Arab states. Following the establishment of the state, the United States imposed an embargo on Israel, prompting Israel to develop military trade relations with European countries: in 1955, a weapons deal was signed with France, and in 1961, Israel sold Uzi submachine guns to the Netherlands.

Following changes in the Middle East, relations between Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom began to warm. In 1956, Israel and the UK reached understandings that culminated in the launch of Operation Kadesh. The collapse of the “Baghdad Pact” prompted the United States to turn Israel into a strategic base in the Middle East and a key ally.

the periphery alliance

The Periphery Doctrine was Israel’s diplomatic strategy for establishing ties with countries located in the Middle East. Based on the understanding that the Arab–Jewish conflict was political rather than religious, the goal of the doctrine was to neutralize the widespread opposition of Arab states to Israel’s existence and to solidify its legitimacy as a state in the region in preparation for negotiations with Arab countries. It focused primarily on Turkey, Iran, Ethiopia, rebel groups in southern Sudan, and the Kurdish communities scattered across Middle Eastern countries.

Turkey and Iran, which were considered rivals of the Arab states, saw themselves as part of the struggle for regional control. In 1950, they were the only Muslim countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel. Israel assisted in industrial and military development in both Turkey and Iran, and Iran supplied oil to Israel even during the Six-Day War. However, it appears that not only Iran and Turkey, but also Ethiopia, played a role: during those years, Israel imported cattle from Ethiopia, and it is claimed that the company’s offices in Ethiopia also served as intelligence stations.

Israel’s Relations with Latin American Countries: Central and South America

Most countries in Central and South America voted in favor of the UN Partition Plan on November 29. In the first two years following the establishment of the State of Israel, most of them also recognized it: Nicaragua was the fourth country to recognize Israel, after the United States, the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia. Panama was one of the few countries that, during the War of Independence, broke the U.S. embargo and sold weapons to Israel.

At the same time, diplomatic and trade relations were being developed. Israel established extensive trade ties with Brazil, importing food products and coffee and exporting olive oil. With Uruguay and Argentina, Israel built connections centered around the large Jewish communities in those countries. In 1963, Ecuador announced the establishment of a Nahal (pioneer military) unit in the country, where soldiers would learn agriculture as part of their military service. To facilitate this, exchange delegations between Israel and Ecuador took place. Alongside these ties, Israel was also well aware that many senior officials from the Nazi regime had fled to these countries after the Holocaust, and it sought to hold them accountable.