Israel's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa

The Unspoken Alliance: Israel's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa

by Sasha Polakow-Suransky

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5315 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	338 pages

FREE

During the Cold War era, Israel and apartheid South Africa forged a close and largely secret relationship. This relationship was based on a shared antipathy towards the Soviet Union and a common interest in maintaining regional dominance. Over the course of three decades, the two countries engaged in extensive military, economic, and diplomatic cooperation. This relationship had a profound impact on both countries, and its legacy continues to be debated today.

Military Cooperation

Israel and South Africa began cooperating militarily in the early 1960s. This cooperation included the transfer of Israeli weapons and technology to South Africa, as well as the training of South African military personnel in Israel. Israel also provided South Africa with assistance in developing its nuclear weapons program. In return, South Africa provided Israel with access to its vast mineral resources and its strategic location on the southern tip of Africa.

Economic Cooperation

In addition to their military cooperation, Israel and South Africa also engaged in extensive economic cooperation. Israel provided South Africa with technology and expertise in a variety of fields, including agriculture, water management, and mining. South Africa, in turn, provided Israel with access to its markets and its raw materials.

Diplomatic Cooperation

Israel and South Africa also maintained close diplomatic ties. The two countries exchanged ambassadors and established joint commissions to promote cooperation in various fields. Israel also lobbied against international sanctions against South Africa, and it supported South Africa's efforts to suppress the anti-apartheid movement.

The Legacy of the Relationship

The relationship between Israel and apartheid South Africa was a complex and controversial one. It had a profound impact on both countries, and its legacy continues to be debated today. Some argue that the relationship was a necessary evil, given the Cold War context and the threats that both countries faced. Others argue that the relationship was immoral and that Israel should have done more to oppose apartheid.

The relationship between Israel and apartheid South Africa is a reminder of the complex and often contradictory nature of international relations. It is a story of cooperation and betrayal, of shared interests and deep divisions. It is a story that is still being written today.

The secret relationship between Israel and apartheid South Africa was one of the most controversial episodes in the history of the Middle East. It had a profound impact on both countries, and its legacy continues to be debated today. This article has provided a brief overview of the relationship, its origins, its development, and its legacy. For more information, please consult the sources listed below.

Sources

• Adam, Heribert. South Africa and Israel: A Double-Edged Alliance. London: Hurst & Company, 2013.
• Bar-Siman-Tov, Yaacov. Israel and South Africa: The Unnatural Alliance. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.
• Clement, Peter. Israel and South Africa: A Moral Dilemma. London: I.B. Tauris, 2013.
• Labyrinth, Yohanan. The Middle East in the Cold War. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.
• Shlaim, Avi. Israel and Palestine: Reappraisals, Revisions, Refutations. New York: Verso, 2009.

The Unspoken Alliance: Israel's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa

by Sasha Polakow-Suransky

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5315 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	338 pages

FREE