Israel & Africa: Forty Years, 1956-1996 (Middle East Seriesvol. 1) Book

A sparkling and highly-readable, collection of eleven of Decalo's most seminal writings on the diplomatic, economic and cultural relations between Israel and sub-Saharan Africa; the essays are complemented by two bibliographies that list virtually everything written in this field, a boon for those wishing to delve deaper into this fascinating field. Two of the articles pay particular attention to the early days of the establishment of Israel when "messianic yearnings" dictated many aspects of the strong diplomatic entry of Israel into Africa, and her burgdeoning program of economic cooperation. The link between pragmatic considerations (the need to fend off Arab diplomatic assaults against the very legitimacy of the new state) and ideaological/messianic zeal of its original leadership (Ben Gurion and Golda Meir) go a long way in explaining why by 1961 Israel had forged the third-largest presence in Africa (after France and britain) despite the country's (then) wea! k economy and minute population. With the reverses that israel suffered in the 1970's (culminating in the anti-Zionism vote at the UN, to which an entire article is devoted)Israeli policy towards Africa shifted to pure real-politik.Read More