Figure 1.--This undated photograph shows Israeli pilots showing off their French built-jets, probably before the Six Days War. Thevmen were arguably the best trained pilots in the world. The plane looks like the French Dassault M.D. 450 Ouragan (Hurricane). This was the first French-designed jet fighter-bomber to enter production. It was the first step in the resurgence of the French aviation industry after World War II. The Ouragan in Israeli service it was used in both the Suez Crisis and the Six-Day War. It was the French Mirage that was the Israeli more advanced aircraft. The French embargo in the face of aggressive Arab steps left the Israelis no choice but aremptive strike. Without out French spare parts, their planes could not be maintained./

France played a key role in the survival of Israel. This included diplomatic support. France recognized the independent Jewish stte (1949). And France supprted Israel membership in the United Nations. The key role France played, however, was suppling weapons. The Soviets which supported Israel at first soon ordered its European satellites not to sell weapons. They would then become the major arms supplier for the Arabs. The United States while supporting Isael diplomtically, provided little aid and refused to supply weapons. Individul Americans, mostly Jews, aided Israeli financially, but not the U.S. Government. American policy at the time was to contain the Israel-Arab conflict by keeping weapons out of the region. Britain because of their desire to placate the Arabs was not about to provide weapons to the Israelis. This would have meant the death of Israel, especially after Soviet arms shipmets began. It was France who stepped into arm the Israelis at this critical early stage of Israeli indpendence (1953). France for a time became Israel's closest ally and supporter. This was interesting because of the major powers, France had the most substantial history of anti-Semitism. France at the time was fighting Arab nationalism in Algeria and resisting Egyptian efforts to seize the Suez Canal. French support was crucial because it provided Israel's only access to advanced weaponry. Israel at the time was a very newstate with a very basic economy. The only way that Israel could obtain advanced jet aircraft was from one of the major powers. And only France was willing to sell jet aircraft to the Israelis. This was the beginning of the modern Israeli airforce. The French povided Israel's first high-performance combat aircraft. Less public at the time was french aid in jump starting the Israeli nuclear program. The 1956 Suez Crisis was the watershed event for Israeli-French relations. Israel was hard pressed by the Egyptian military build up, especially the appearance of Soviet weaponry. They this went along with a secret British-French plan to maintain control of the Suez Canal. Israel initiated a surprise invasion of the Egypt Sianai. The British and French intervened, obstensibly to protect the Canal and hopefully remove Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. The British and French, however acted without American support. The United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Nations forced Israel as well as Brtain and France to withdraw. While the plan failed, the French became Israel's major arms supplier. This included French jets, eventually the Mirage which became the backbone of the Israeli Air Force. President DeGualle made both some pro-Israeli statements as well as some troubling statements when he returned to power (1960), but France continued selling weapons. With the end of the Algerian War (1962) DeGaulle began the process of repairing France’s relations with the Arab world. This meant a conflict with France's Israeli relationship. Arms sales, however, continued until President Nassar began escalating the condlict with Israel taking steps little removed from War (1967). This apparently forced France's hand. The French Government had to pick a side. The French decided that it was in their interest to shft alleginace from Israel to the Arabs. Despite the the unprovoked aggressive moves by Egypt, France shocked the Israelis by imposing an arms embargo which mostly hurt Israel (June 3). The French also warned senior Israeli officials to avoid hostilities. This was potential disaster for Israel. The Soviets were arming the Arabs, but now Israel was being denied arms. This essentially forced Israel to launch a premtive strike. Israel had no way of maintaining its aircraft without French spare parts. When Israel launched a pre-emptive strike (June 5), France condemned it even though ironically Israel’s stunning air victory was achieved with mostly French-made aircraft. A few months later President DeGaulle told reporters that France had 'freed itself ... from the very special and very close ties' with Israel, adding an editorial that Jews were 'an elite people, sure of itself, and dominating.' It is unclear how important that thinking was compared to basic power politics--the growing influence of Arab states. Obstensibly, France embargoed shipments to the Arabs as well. But because the Arabs were obtaining their arms from the Soviets, only Israel was adversely affected. The French held up 50 Mirages bought and paid for by Israel in a French warehouse. President DeGualled retired (1969). President Georges Pompidou would bring about better relations, but Pompidou continued the weapons embargo. Frtuntel, by this time, Israel was developing aodern economy capable of building modern weapons. In additon, the Uited states to counter the flow of siviet weapons into the region, began supplying advanced arms to Israel.

Foundation of Israel

France played a key role in the survival of Israel. This included diplomatic support. France recognized the independent Jewish stte (1949). And France supprted Israel membership in the United Nations.

Israel's Weapons Problem

The key role France played, however, was suppling weapons. The Soviets which supported Israel at first soon ordered its European satellites not to sell weapons. They would then become the major arms supplier for the Arabs. The United States while supporting Isael diplomtically, provided little aid and refused to supply weapons. Individul Americans, mostly Jews, aided Israeli financially, but not the U.S. Government. American policy at the time was to contain the Israel-Arab conflict by keeping weapons out of the region. Britain because of their desire to placate the Arabs was not about to provide weapons to the Israelis. This would have meant the death of Israel, especially after Soviet arms shipmets began.

France's Key Role

It was France who stepped into arm the Israelis at this critical early stage of Israeli indpendence (1953). France for a time became Israel's closest ally and supporter. This was interesting because of the major powers, France had the most substantial history of anti-Semitism. Radical Arab nationalism seemed areater thret to the French. France at the time was fighting Arab nationalism in Algeria and resisting Egyptian efforts to seize the Suez Canal. French support was crucial because it provided Israel's only access to advanced weaponry. Israel at the time was a very new state with only a basic economy. The only way that Israel could obtain advanced jet aircraft was from one of the major powers. And only France was willing to sell jet aircraft to the Israelis. This was the beginning of the modern Israeli Airforce. The French povided Israel's first high-performance combat aircraft. Less public at the time was French aid in jump starting the Israeli nuclear program. France and Israel signed an agreement for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Israel (October 1957). It was which was completed in 1963. Future Israeli President Shimon Peres was the Isreali negotiator politician who concluded the deal. The 1956 Suez Crisis was the watershed event for Israeli-French relations. Israel was hard pressed by the Egyptian military build up, especially the appearance of Soviet weaponry. They this went along with a secret British-French plan to maintain control of the Suez Canal. Israel initiated a surprise invasion of the Egypt Sianai. The British and French intervened, obstensibly to protect the Canal and hopefully remove Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. The British and French, however acted without American support. The United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Nations forced Israel as well as Brtain and France to withdraw. While the plan failed, the French became Israel's major arms supplier. This included French jets, eventually the Mirage which became the backbone of the Israeli Air Force. President DeGualle made both some pro-Israeli statements as well as some troubling statements when he returned to power (1960), but France continued selling weapons.

French Shift

With the end of the Algerian War (1962) DeGaulle began the process of repairing France’s relations with the Arab world. This meant a conflict with France's Israeli relationship. Arms sales, however, continued until President Nassar began escalating the condlict with Israel taking steps little removed from War (1967). This apparently forced France's hand. The French Government had to pick a side. The French decided that it was in their interest to shft alleginace from Israel to the Arabs. Despite the the unprovoked aggressive moves by Egypt, France shocked the Israelis by imposing an arms embargo which mostly hurt Israel (June 3). The French also warned senior Israeli officials to avoid hostilities. This was potential disaster for Israel. The Soviets were arming the Arabs, but now Israel was being denied arms. This essentially forced Israel to launch a premtive strike. Israel had no way of maintaining its aircraft without French spare parts. When Israel launched a pre-emptive strike (June 5), France condemned it even though ironically Israel’s stunning air victory was achieved with mostly French-made aircraft. A few months later President DeGaulle told reporters that France had 'freed itself ... from the very special and very close ties' with Israel, adding an editorial that Jews were 'an elite people, sure of itself, and dominating.' It is unclear how important that thinking was compared to basic power politics--the growing influence of Arab states. Obstensibly, France embargoed shipments to the Arabs as well. But because the Arabs were obtaining their arms from the Soviets, only Israel was adversely affected. The French held up 50 Mirages bought and paid for by Israel in a French warehouse. President DeGualled retired (1969). President Georges Pompidou would bring about better relations, but Pompidou continued the weapons embargo. Frtuntel, by this time, Israel was developing aodern economy capable of building modern weapons. In additon, the Uited states to counter the flow of siviet weapons into the region, began supplying advanced arms to Israel.

Created: 2:30 AM 3/15/2016
Last updated: 2:51 PM 3/21/2016