The United States Involvement with Israel Historic and Present

Hunter 1




Since the State of Israel was founded in 1948, the United States

government has supported them through war and turmoil. The roots of

America's particpation on the side of Israel can be traced back directly to

Harry Truman's presidential administration. Eleven minutes after the

founding of Israel the United States recognized it as a sovereign nation.

Since that day, U. S. politics have balanced in policy between supporting

Israel and access to Middle Eastern oil (Grier 1-2).

In October of 1973, President Richard Nixon met with his Secretary of

State, Henry Kissinger to discuss the current war in the Middle East. Just

one day earlier the armies of Egypt and Syria had launched a surprise attack

on the Israelis. Kissinger informed the president that Israel was requesting

logistical support in the form of sidewinder missiles and ammunition.

Confident that he was picking the winning team, President Nixon ag...