By April 23, 2008 Read More →

Russ Recognize Israel, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle, May 18, 1948.

Moshe ShertokClick here to view the original article.

Moscow, May 17 (AP)-The Soviet government announced tonight its official recognition of the new Jewish State of Israel.

Recognition of the new state set up in Palestine Saturday was accorded by the Russian government at the request of Moshe Shertock, Foreign Minister of Israel.

Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov replied in a note to Shertok that “the government of the USSR has decided to recognize officially the State of Israel and its provisional government.”

Molotov added- “The Soviet government hopes that the creation by at the request of Moshe Shertok, state will serve the cause of strengthening peace and security in Palestine and the Near East, and expresses its confidence in the successful development of friendly relations between the USSR and the State of Israel”

SHERTOK’S WIRE

Shertok had telegraphed Molotov announcing the formation of the Jewish state an the basis of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly of November 29, 1947.” That was the original Palestine partition resolution.

After asking for Soviet recognition Shertok said- “I take this opportunity to express to you the profound gratitude of the Jewish people of Palestine which is shared by the Jewish people of the whole world for the firm attitude taken by delegations of the USSR in the United Nations organization in favor of the establishment of a sovereign and independent Jewish state in Palestine and for the tenacious defense of this attitude despite all difficulties, for the expression of sincere sympathy with the sufferings of the Jewish people in Europe under the heel of the Fascist butchers and for support in principle that the Jews of Palestine are a nation who have a right to sovereignty and independence.”

AIMS OF THE NATION

In his description of the aims of the new nation, Shertok said the National Council “declares that the State of Israel will be open for immigration of Jews of all countries in which they are dispersed, which will further the development of our country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; that it will be based on the principles of freedom, justice and peace; that it will maintain complete social and political equality of all citizens without regard to race, religion or sex, that it will guarantee full freedom of conscience, religion, education, culture and language; that it will maintain the sanctity and inviolability of relics and sacred places of all religions;and that it will follow the principles of the United Nations charter.”

Shertok then voiced Israel’s desire to co-operate with the United Nations and to strive for economic union of Palestine. (Such a union is part of the U. N. partition plan.) He also proposed peace to all neighboring countries and appealed to the Arab inhabitants of Israel to return to a peaceful life.

U. S. RECOGNITION

(President Truman proclaimed last Friday the United States’ recognition of Israel as a de facto government.

(Political circles in London, where the texts of Shertok and Molotov’s notes were received in a broadest of the Moscow Radio, said the Russian recognition appeared to be broader in scope than the United States.

(“De facto” means that the government actually is in operation and is the ruling authority in the territory in question. “De facto” recognition usually is extended to provisional governments. “De Jure” recognition means recognition of a government as the legally constituted authority and ordinarily is followed by an exchange of diplomat representatives.

(Molotov’s letter made no mention of “de facto” or “de jure.” However, it described the State of Israel as the Jewish people’s “sovereign states.” and looked forward to a “successful development of friendly relations between the USSR and the State of Israel,” President Truman’s recognition, announced when the British mandate for Palestine ended, did not mention sovereignty.)

(United Press reported that earlier the Foreign Office announced Britain would not recognize Israel yet because it has not fulfilled the “basic criteria” of an independent state.

(An official spokesman said Britain was withholding recognition for purely legal reasons. He denied the government was prejudiced against the Jewish state, although he said the first public speech of Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok caused “surprise and regret” here. Shertok assailed Britain.)

Comments are closed.