Israel Development in 1950s

• Neighbour Relations

  • Jordan:
  • Want West Bank
  • Israel agreed to keep West Jerusalem control
  • Prefer to international management
  • Want right to return
  • Abdullah assassinated; fear he'd sign peace treaty
  • Oct '53: Israeli attack Village, kill 50+
  • Eygpt:
  • First agreement, confirmed pre-war borders
  • A Palestine's Gaza came under Egypt military rule
  • Gaza refugee raids, led to Israeli reprisals
  • Syria:
  • Had some J territory
  • Agreed retreat if demilitarised zone (buffer)
  • Israel attempted to force A out buffer zone for more J Settlements
  • Dispute over Israel diverting river Jordan
• 'Perpetual War'

  • No permanent peace treaties for 30 years
  • A states wouldn't recognised Israel
  • Couldn’t agree on refugees or borders
  • Some willing to negotiate borders
  • Arab League refugee policy: Right to return or be compensated,
  • Israel claimed Arabs caused problems by invading
  • So refugees should be settled outside
  • Arab public opinion bitter over defeat, hated Israel
  • Israel
  • Peace was desirable but noy worth large territory
  • Believed time on their side
  • UN would adjust to borders and Jerusalem
  • Needn't deal with refugees
• Development in '50s

  • Surrounded by hostility
  • Needed mass immigration for security and development
  • '50 Law of Return granted any J right to be Israeli citizen
  • In 4 years, pop doubled
  • Many from north Africa and Middle East
  • Drafted into IDF (similar training)
  • Children learnt Hebrew (shared identity)
  • High education and skills was major
  • Large abroad gifts (US aid: ~1Bn a year, felt Israel a firm friend in troubled area)