United States and Israeli Relations from post WWII to the Present

                Relations between Israel and the US since WWII have been complex, constantly waxing and waning in their strengths. Israel owes the US for its current economic and military strength, while the US has used Israel as a strategic ally in the Middle East, allowing for the strategic placement of military resources. The relations between these two nations evolved from the US support of the creation of a Jewish homeland just after WWII and have evolved into a constant political tradeoff that has repercussions all over the world, most importantly in Russia and other Arab nations. The US has always attempted to help Israel resolve conflicts in the Middle East with diplomatic solutions, but failing this the US has almost always supported Israel in its war efforts. In recent years, tensions have risen because of the strong support from the US for the creation of an independent Palestinian state and for the cessation of Israeli building projects in Palestine. However, the US still grants $3 billion in aid annually to Israel and Israel is the largest recipient of aid from the US since WWII.

Table detailing US aid to Israel

                Israel is a country on the Southeastern shore of the Mediterranean. It is a representative democracy where all citizens can vote. Its capital is Jerusalem, which is located partially inside of the Palestinian territories. Internationally, Jerusalem is not considered part of Israel. Israel has been occupying the Palestinian territories since 1967 after the Six Day War, and the US does not recognize Palestine as a state. The territory of Palestine was set aside in 1947 from the Jewish state of Israel to create a distinct Arab state. Since that point, tensions between Arab nations and Israel regarding borders and recognized sovereignty have been extremely high. In 1948, after the Arab-Israeli war, Britain, France, and the US signed the Tripartite declaration, which marked the beginning of official US/Israeli relations. The declaration said that each nation pledged to take action to prevent the violation of borders created after the war, oppose an arms race in the Middle East, and have a devotion to peace and stability in the region.

Map showing location of Israel and Palestine

                In the 1950’s, the US began providing Israel with economic aid for basic food supplies. However, with the looming threat of influence of the Soviet Union on Egypt, the US was forced to begin selling defensive weapons to Israel in case of war. Later, in the Kennedy administration, the US shifted to full support of Israel. This antagonized other countries in the Middle East, and perhaps pushed them to the side of the Soviet Union. The US failed to contain the tension diplomatically and was forced to begin selling offensive weapons to Israel. Despite US pressure for peace, Israel did not want to pull out of occupied Arab territories, especially Palestine. In order to gain attention from the US, Egypt engaged in a war with Israel in the 70’s. The US provided intense military support to Israel because of the Egyptian ties to the Soviet Union, despite the fact that Egypt expelled its Soviet advisors before the war. At the end of the war, the US pressured Israel into sparing a badly beaten Egyptian army, thus sparking peace between Israel and Egypt and preventing Soviet intervention. This was a major success for the US because it improved the US standing in the region and preventing further tensions, and possibly all out war, with the Soviet Union in the region.

The US began selling missile defense weapons to Israel

                Under the Bush Sr. administration in the early 90’s, the US began to express its request for Israel to abandon its policies of expansion. This further soured US/Israeli relations that had come under strain when the previous administration opened talks with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), the governing body of Palestine. During the Bush administration, Israel was still occupying several Arab states, including Palestine, where it was conducting building projects for Jewish people. Despite this, there was relative peace in the region. The US attempted to capitalize on this peace to advance Arab-Israeli peace in general. Peace negotiations began in Madrid, eventually leading to a UN resolution that improved Israel’s standing in the UN. However, the talks did little to improve the still tense situation between Israel and its neighbors. Under the Clinton administration in the 90’s, Israel and the PLO officially recognized each other and the US provided more funds for Israel anti-terror and defense efforts.

Emblem for the PLO

 As of now, the US is against the settlement of Israelis in Palestine, because it does little to improve peace and prevents the emergence of a Palestinian state. During the recent Bush administration, the US always encouraged Israel to pull out of Palestine during times of conflict, and the US still supports the creation of two states that live side by side in peace.

Obama and PM Netenyahu in talks to promote peace in the Middle East

                Today, the Obama administration and Secretary of State John Kerry continue to support a two state solution to the Israeli/Arab tensions. The US continues to pressure Israel to cease building projects and supports the idea that the PLO and Israel work together to create a border that makes sense from a demographic perspective, to create one Jewish state and one Arab state. The US and Israel are still strong trading partners, and the US provides military and economic aid to ensure that Israel continues to be a strong presence in the Middle East. 

Sources:

The Handbook of the Middle East

Key events in the history of Israel

US gov website on Israel

CNN article on Israel

US aid to Israel

Article on the alliance of the US and Israel

Detailed history of US/Israel relations

History of Israel from the Israeli gov website

Cinderella Man is an inspirational film about the unlikely story of a boxer in the great depression. The film highlights several difficulties that an everyday individual might encounter during this time period, such as struggling with money, jobs, family, and food. The film is overall very effective in its portrayal of historical facts and contexts, and it does a great job of conveying emotion and drawing the audience in to the story. For example, the film goes to great lengths to show the shame felt by the main character at several points in his life. In addition, difficulties in finding work, Hoovervilles, and the impact of the radio are also highlighted, providing accurate historical context. However, there are some aspects of the plot that are embellished in order to be more entertaining, such as the portrayal of the main antagonist.

The most prevalent aspect of the great depression was the lack of money all across America. This, at its core, is the basis of the movie. Braddock fights to be able to provide for his family, not for glory or fame. This is shown by Braddock’s simple demeanor and neutral statements at the press conference. He is also pressured by his wife not to fight, but does anyway because he knows that that is the only real choice for the wellbeing of his family. The film also shows how many companies were forced to cut labor in order to reduce costs and remain afloat. Braddock has to try his luck every day at the docks to bring home some money to keep the utilities on at his house.

Family life is a huge part of the movie, and it is fairly accurately portrayed. Braddock is always motivated by his internal desire to provide for his own family. This motivation was true in the US for many men before the depression, and, for the most part, did not change during the depression. Braddock also feels great shame when he is forced to go the government for aid. The culture at the time was such that individuals felt like failures if they had to ask for aid. This is emphasized by the fact that Braddock repays what he borrowed later in the film. Another example of this shame is effectively portrayed when Braddock’s friend is forced to abandon his home because of his unemployment. Braddock’s friend leaves his family because of his poverty and moves to a Hooverville, which are shantytowns of unemployed people in major cities.

The rise of the prevalence of radio is also effectively shown in the film. Beginning in this time period, radio became a way to bring people together and organize the masses. Several people from the community come together in churches, bars, and houses to listen to Braddock’s fight.

The film is effective in its portrayal of life in the 1930s during the depression. It shows how there were few aspects of life that did not suffer for nearly everyone in the US. It does an especially good job of highlighting the type of shame and other emotions that might be felt by a man trying to provide for his family during this time period.

                 

Great White Fleet Project Sources

Great White Fleet – History and Memorabilia

Naval History – Great White Fleet

Great White Fleet Information – Library of Congress

Smithsonian – History of Postcards
Online Library GWF Database
         -This source provided several pictures I used for my postcards. It also provided some specific details about the voyage that I used to embellish my postcards.