Volumes 1-2: 1947-1974
Editor: Meron Medzini
Chairman of Editorial Board: Chaim Yahil
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Jerusalem 1976
INTRODUCTION
This collection of documents is intended to fill a gap in the
growing literature on Israel's foreign relations. Obviously, a
first-hand knowledge of basic documents is essential for
an understanding of the foreign policy of any country. The present
effort is an attempt to bring together a large number of documents
from various sources. Brief editorial notes place each document
in its context and historical perspective. Introductions to sections
are designed to add a dimension of continuity in the development
of Israeli policy and thinking.
The present two volumes deal with the Arab-Israel conflict
only. Further volumes on Israel's relations with the rest of the
world are planned. All the documents collected ere have been published
in the past. An attempt was made to avoid the repetition of basic
arguments; but a measure of some repetition is unavoidable in
a collection of documents of this kind.
Many of the documents were translated from Hebrew into English
mainly by the English Publications Division of the Government
Press Office. The division was headed y Mr. Misha Louvish, assisted
by Dr. Pinchas Lapide, later by Dr. Lapide and since the early
1970's by Mr. Dov Chaikin. They were aided by a devoted team of
translators hat included, among others: Taffy Baker, Ruth Barak,
Harley Braidman, Chanan Goldstein, Alan Karew, Jack Katsenell,
Ephraim Lahav, Henni Ne'eman, Uzzi Nistar, Miriam Shimoni and
Pauline Shomer. There has been virtually no editing of texts,
and he documents are reproduced as they first appeared.
Special mention must be made of Mr. Nechemia Meyers, a former
assistant to Mr. Louvish at the Government Press Office and now
Director of Public Affairs at the Weizmann Institute of Science,
for his share and for permission to use his translation of certain
sections of "Ben-Gurion's Israel - A Personal History"
(Sabra Books, Tel Aviv, 1971), and to America-Israel
Publishing Company, Tel Aviv, for permission to reprint these
documents.
Thanks are due to Ambassador Mordechai (Max) Nurock, who translated
some of the early Ben-Gurion speeches, and devoted much time
and effort to reading the proofs of various sections of the present
volumes.
No effort has been made to impose on the different translations
uniformity of style or even consistency in spelling. Hence, English
spelling is used sometimes, American spelling at other times.
With few exceptions, entire documents are reproduced. To the extent
that excerpts were made, it is so indicated in the introduction
to the document.
The project originated with Foreign Minister Eban and had the
untiring support of many senior officials of the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs. Directors-General Mordechai Gazit and Avraham
Kidron took special interest in the project, and Mr. Gazit also
gave the Editor and the Chairman of' the Editorial Board his invaluable
advice on certain problems and issues. The late Dr. Chaim Yahil
was Chairman of the Editorial Board and Dr. Meron Medzini edited
the book.
The Editorial Board was composed of Yehiel Ilsar, Aluf Har-Even,
Moshe Yuval and Ya'acov Shimoni. The following senior members
of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs contributed guidance and advice
on certain sections: Pinchas Eliav, Michael Elitsur, David Ariel,
Yoav Biran, Shmuel Divon, Shamai Cahana, Yochanan Meroz, Yehuda
Nassi, Michael Pragai, and Mordechai Kidron. Mordechai Bar-On,
Walter Eytan, Netanel Lorch and Arthur Lurie also contributed
ideas and suggestions. Yehoshua Zimon was instrumental in the
administrative side.
Miss Naima Farha proof-read the first draft; Mrs. Lillian
Alizi the second. Mrs. Ruth Ariel and the staff of the Israel
Information Center in Jerusalem deserve much credit for the first
draft.
The maps are by Carta and the book was designed, set and printed
by Isratypeset, Jerusalem.
Dr. Yahil did not live to see the conclusion of this effort,
in which he was involved in the final year of his life. This exceptional
man, whose wisdom, patience and understanding both of historical
processes and the importance of the written word, was the moving
spirit in the transformation of' the provisional draft into its
final form. Having served in many capacities in the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs, culminating with a tenure as Director- General
(1960-1964), Dr. Yahil was deeply connected with the events
covered by these documents. He has written some of the introductions
to sections, as well as prefaces to documents. But above all,
his penetrating mind and his objective and incisive analysis of
events, were invaluable. Mrs. Yahil deserves thanks for patiently
letting her living room become the center of editorial activity
in the last year of her husband's life. Mrs. Yerma Medzini has
lived through four years of documents with patience and understanding.
Meron Medzini
Jerusalem, June 1976