Date and Time
October 20, 2003
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Availability
Open to the public
No RSVP required

Speaker
John C. de Boer

Recently released Israel state archives indicate that during its formative years the Israeli government actively sought to expand its relations with Asian states based on the belief that ties with countries in Asia would break the political siege erected around it by the Arabs. At that time, the Israeli foreign ministry was of the opinion that good relations with Asia would disprove the Arab claim that Israel was imperialistic, foil the Arab design to cut Israel off from the east completely, and persuade the Arabs that it was time to make peace and come to terms with Israel's existence. After having failed to make inroads into what Israeli decision-makers considered to be key Asian countries at that time (India and the PRC), Israel turned to a newly independent Japan. This talk will highlight Japan's response to Israel's initial advances between 1952-1956, before Japan became dependent on Arab oil, by drawing upon primary sources in Japan and Israel.