U.S. DIPLOMACY, ISRAEL AND «PALESTINIAN REFUGEES PROBLEM» AT THE TURN OF 1940s–1950s

The paper provides analysis of the U.S. mediatory initiatives in the peace process in Palestine after the Israeli war of Independence in 1947-1948. The research is focused on the conditions and circumstances that generated the aggravation of the question of Palestine and its major catalyser - the Palestinian refugee problem. The author expresses his view on the nature of U.S.-Israel relations at the initial stage and their impact on the plight of Palestinian refugees in general. The diplomatic initiatives of the USA under the auspice of the U.N. resulted in significant worsening of the predicament of Palestinian refugees. This problem took the issue of the realization of the Palestinians' political rights for a national state off the table. In the context of the bipolar confrontation the USA  supported Israel’s sovereignty interest as the western linchpin in the region. Washington expected that blocking funding for repatriation or resettlement of the Palestinian refugees would result in greater loyalty of Arab opponents of Israel and provide Pro-Western orientation of the region. However the policy produced the opposite effect.

The article represents an unconventional view on such crucial for Palestine U.N. specialized agencies as Palestine Conciliation Commission, UNRWA (U.N. Relief and Work Agency). The article reconsiders their peace-making mediatory activity. It is noteworthy to mention that no sufficient attention has yet been given to the analysis of the activity of these  specialized agencies in the Russian historiography. Despite their declared international status these U.N. specialized agencies actually were instruments of the U.S. diplomacy in the region during the researched period.