Israel and Yugoslavia between East and West
Israel and Yugoslavia between East and West

Author(s): Shaul Shay
Subject(s): Diplomatic history, Political history, WW II and following years (1940 - 1949), Post-War period (1950 - 1989), Cold-War History
Published by: Institut za noviju istoriju Srbije
Keywords: Israel; Yugoslavia; East; West; Tito; Cold War
Summary/Abstract: The years between 1947 and 1953 were a critical period for both Israel and Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia was formed from the ruins of the Second World War, as a new socialist state under the leadership of Tito, searching for a new identity in the bipolar world. Israel was founded as a new independent state and had to fight in order to protect itself against hostile Arab neighbors. Israel like Yugoslavia had to choose its orientation between East and West. On these backgrounds Israel and Yugoslavia had some common interests that led to cooperation between the two states. This article will discuss some examples of the bilateral relations between the two states on the backdrop of the „Cold War” era: The Israeli Yugoslav cooperation during the Israeli independence war 1947–1949. The Israeli Yugoslav relations between 1950 and 1953. In the first years after WWII Yugoslavia had taken an adherent position towards the Israeli side in the conflict and allowed the transfer of arms, and by doing so contributed to the victory of Israel in the 1948 war. Later, Yugoslavia had a pro-Arab policy, which lasted for the most of the „Cold War” era.

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