Recognition by United Nations of the right of Jewish people to establish their State is irrevocable

In 1917 Chaim Weizmann received from the British government a statement (Balfour Declaration) to establish a Jewish national home in Palestine. This statement was in gratitude to the Jews for their support of the British against the Turks during World War I. (As a chemist, Weizmann provided invaluable assistance to the British by developing a new method for manufacture of acetone.)


After the war, the League of Nations ratified the Balfour Declaration and in 1922 appointed Britain to rule in Palestine.


Fighting broke out in Palestine.  In response, Britain issued a white paper in 1939 that restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine. The Jews, feeling betrayed, looked to the United States for support.

Balfour Document: "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people."


Mandate of the League of Nations: "Whereas recognition has thereby been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country."

FDR's position was wishy-washy and uncertain. When he suddenly died of a stroke in 1945, a very decisive Truman became President. Truman initiated several studies of the Palestine situation that supported his belief that the Jews were in need of a homeland. The Departments of War and State advised against supporting the persecuted Jews because of potential Arab restriction on oil supplies to the United States.

On May 14, 1948, the British Mandate over Palestine expired, and the Jewish People's Council gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum to declare the establishment of the State of Israel.

"In the year 5657 (1897), at the summons of the spiritual father of the Jewish State, Theodore Herzl, the First Zionist Congress convened and proclaimed the right of the Jewish people to national rebirth in its own country. This right was recognized in the Balfour Declaration of the 2nd November, 1917, and re-affirmed in the Mandate of the League of Nations which, in particular, gave international sanction to the historic connection between the Jewish people and Eretz-Israel and to the right of the Jewish people to rebuild its National Home."

Though again advised by Secretary of State George Marshall not to recognize the new state of Israel, President Truman recognized Israel that night.

“This Government has been informed that a Jewish state has been proclaimed in Palestine, and recognition has been requested by the provisional Government thereof. The United States recognizes the provisional government as the de facto authority of the new State of Israel.”

U.S. delegates to the U.N. and top ranking State Department officials were stunned that Truman released his recognition statement to the press without notifying them first.

 "The decision to recognize Israel was one of the most difficult of Truman's presidency," said Michael Devine, Truman Library director. "It is also considered to be one of the most significant foreign-policy actions in the history of the United States."

 Three days later, Israel was also recognized by the USSR, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Austria, China, Germany, France, Turkey, and other countries were to follow.


On May 15, 1948, the Arab states issued their response statement and Arab armies invaded Israel, and the first Arab-Israeli war began.  Israel won the war to further earn and cement her right to be there.

 Title of article is taken from The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948.

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