World
U.S.-Israel Ties from page 25
The question of whether or not to
recognize that state fell to Harry S.
Truman. Raised in a Baptist household
where he learned much of the Bible
by heart, Truman had been a member
of the pro-Zionist American Christian
Palestine Committee and an advocate
of the right of Jews — particularly
Holocaust survivors — to immigrate
to Palestine. He was
naturally inclined
to acknowledge the
nascent state but
encountered fervid
opposition from the
entire foreign policy establishment. If
America sided with the Zionists, offi-
cials in the State and Defense depart-
ments cautioned, the Arabs would cut
off oil supplies to the West, undermine
America's economy and expose Europe
to Soviet invasion. Hundreds of thou-
sands of U.S. troops would have to be
sent to Palestine to save its Jews from
massacre.
Truman listened carefully to these
warnings and then, at 6:11 on the eve-
ning of May 14, he announced that the
U.S. would be the first nation to recog-
nize the newly declared State of Israel.
While the decision may have
stemmed in part from domestic politi-
cal considerations, it is difficult to
conceive that any politician, much less
one of Truman's character, would have
risked global catastrophe by recogniz-
ing a frail and miniscule country. More
likely, the dramatic dernarche reflected
Truman's religious background and
his commitment to the restorationist
creed.
Introduced a few weeks later to an
American Jewish delegation as the
president who had helped create Israel,
Truman took umbrage and snapped,
"What you mean 'helped create'? I am
Cyrus" — a reference to the Persian
king who returned the Jews from exile
— "I am Cyrus!"
Baptist grandfather told him to "take
care of the Jews, God's chosen people
and that Bill Clinton's pastor, on his
deathbed, made the future president
promise never to abandon the Jewish
state. We know how faith has impacted
the policies of George W. Bush, who is
perhaps the most pro-Israel president
in history.
Carter isolates himself from
centuries of American tradition.
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26
January Cf 2007
Steadfast With Israel
Since 1948, some administrations
(Eisenhower, Bush Sr.) have been less
ardent in their attachment to Israel,
and others (Kennedy, Nixon) more so.
Throughout the last 60 years, though,
the U.S. has never wavered in its con-
cern for Israel's survival and its sup-
port for the Jewish people's right to
statehood.
While U.S.-Israel ties are no doubt
strengthened by common bonds of
democracy and Western culture, reli-
gion remains an integral component
in that relationship.
We know that Lyndon Johnson's
In his apparent attempt to make
American Christians rethink their
affection for Israel, Jimmy Carter is
clearly departing from time-honored
practice. This has not been the legacy
of evangelicals alone, but of many reli-
gious denominations in the U.S., and
not solely the conviction of Bush, but
of generations of American leaders.
In the controversial title of his book,
Carter implicitly denounces Israel for
its separatist policies, but, by doing so,
he isolates himself from centuries of
American tradition. I 1
This commentary was first published in the
Wall Street Journal on Dec. 26. Michael
Oren is a senior fellow at the Shalem
Center in Jerusalem.
ZOA Election Held
The Zionist Organization of America
election meeting was held Nov. 30 at
Adat Shalom Synagogue.
The following slate will serve as the
regional officers for two-year terms
through December 2008: president,
Michigan Region,
Sheldon L. Miller;
executive vice
president, Beverly
Baker; vice presi-
dents, Dr. Leora
Bar-Levav, Ruben
H. Isaacs, Rayna
Kogan, Joseph
Miller
Savin, Dr. Lester
Zeff; treasurer,
Sheldon L. Leib; secretary, Diane Savin;
chairman executive committee, Saul
Waldman; honorary chair of the board,
National ZOA Past President Sidney
Silverman.
Miller also serves as chairman of
the Attorney Division of Israel Bonds
and is the managing partner of the
Cochran Firm-Michigan.