When the State of Israel was proclaimed on 15 May 1948, numerous American politicians, including then US Secretary of State George Marshall, counselled President Harry Truman against recognising Israel.
Marshall was concerned that such recognition might impair America's relations with Arab nations progressing towards independence. Despite this, Truman, anticipating the need for Jewish support in the forthcoming 1949 presidential elections, disregarded Marshall's advice.
Contrary to a common misconception, the United States was not the first nation to acknowledge Israel's sovereignty. It was the Soviet Union that first recognised Israel, believing the new state would adopt socialism and align with its sphere of influence.
The Soviet Union even provided Israel with arms. This alignment, however, was short-lived and dissolved before the 1956 Tripartite Aggression against Egypt.
From the Free Officers' Revolution in 1952 to the Tripartite Aggression against Egypt in 1956, Egypt's relations with the United States strengthened, exemplified by the US pledge to finance the High Dam Project.
Read more: This day in history: The birth of the Egyptian Republic
This development infuriated Israel, leading to a series of bombings in Egypt in 1955, including attacks on American cultural centres. These acts aimed to portray Egypt as politically unstable and harbouring anti-American sentiment.
Upon uncovering the Israeli cells responsible for the bombings, Egypt executed two of the perpetrators. This action prompted a retaliatory strike by Israel against the Egyptian army in Gaza, resulting in 32 casualties.
In response, Egypt sought to purchase weapons from the United States. The US refusal led Moscow to seize the opportunity to strengthen ties with Egypt by supplying weapons through Czechoslovakia.
However, Israel did not significantly influence US foreign policy during this period. American politicians were cautious about advancing relations with Israel, fearing it could complicate their dealings with Arab nations.
Between 1952 and 1967, Israel primarily depended on France for military armament, including nuclear weapons, marking a time when its relationship with the US was not as strong or special as it is today.
This is evidenced in several instances: In 1956, US President Dwight Eisenhower demanded an immediate halt to the British and French aggression against Egypt.
Later, his successor, John F. Kennedy, opposed Israel's military nuclear programme. In 1962, Kennedy sent an American inspection team to investigate Israel's nuclear capabilities, but Israel successfully concealed its programme.