SOVIET-ISRAEL RELATIONS IN THE EARLY 1950s: THE CONTRADICTIONS OF ZIONIST AND COMMUNIST IDEOLOGIES


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Abstract

The article analyses the development of Soviet-Israel relations in the specified period against the background of American-Israel rapprochement. The research of Soviet-Israel relations of the beginning period arouses the definite scientific interest. The article studies various factors that influenced the dynamics of relations between Israel and the USSR. As the determinant factors we should mention the attitude of Israel towards the US regional military-political initiatives, the problem of recovery of former Russian Empire’s property in Palestine, and the raised by Israel question about the status of Jewish people in the USSR and their immigration. Particular attention is given to the factor of anti-Soviet and anti-Zionist propaganda in the relations of these two states. The author considers the problem of confrontation of Zionist and Communist ideologies, and particularly in the context of personal attitude of Soviet leaders towards Zionism as the leading state and political ideology of Israel and the position of Israel Government in relation to the socialist system. The analysis of various Soviet and Israel diplomatic materials revealed that the relations between the USSR and Israel in this period represented the contradictory growing trend: from the formation of friendly sympathy to the gradual cooldown and the diplomatic break. The foreign policy orientation of Israel played the key role in the height of inter-block opposition. 

The foreign policy “strategy of non-identification” with none of the blocks proclaimed by Israel at the beginning had a declarative, absolutely formal nature. Political Bureau of the CPSU recognized Israel as the betrayer of socialism interests: Israel began the rapprochement with Washington and shifted the attitude of neutrality in the face of the bipolar confrontation.

About the authors

Rinat Rimovich Mustaev

Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg

Author for correspondence.
Email: miracz@list.ru

post-graduate student 

Russian Federation

References

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