Author: Bialer, Uri
Title: Between East and West : Israel's Foreign Policy Orientation, 1948-1956
Description: Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, (1990). orig.boards. 22x14cm, x,291 pp, Series: LSE Monographs in International Studies.. Minor rubbing. VG. ¶ Contents: Part I. The Internal Dimension: The affiliation dilemma; Publicism, inter-party politics and non-alignment; Part II. Red Star Over Zion: 'Let my people go'; The aliyah tie with Moscow; The East European arena; Trade with the Soviet Union; Political cooperation: The military dimension; Part III. The Western Connection: The military and economic dimensions; From neutrality to the search for a link; Solidification of a Western orientation; Failure of 'facts and pacts' policy; Epilogue: 'A people that dwells alone?'; Appendices. ["Israel's political allegiance to the West is today unquestioned. In the early years after 1948, however, the direction of Israel's foreign policy remained uncertain. In this important book, Dr. Bialer describes the internal debates within the Israeli political parties, and particularly the highly ideological labor movement, on the choices among pro-Soviet, pro-Western or nonaligned foreign policies. Making use of recently declassified documents, the author has carried out extensive research in the State Archives and in other archives; his account is based overwhelmingly on primary sources. This book examines the ideological components of these debates as well as more material motivation factors: dependence on U.S. aid, trade links with the Soviet bloc, reliance on Czech arms supplies, and the degree of freedom allowed to the Soviet and East European Jewish communities to emigrate to Israel. Dr. Bialer concludes that there was no alternative strategy for Israel to adopt; the tilt towards the West was inevitable." -

Keywords: Israeli Foreign Policy, Political History, Israel, Politics, , , , ,