John F. Kennedy & the Politics of Arms Sales to Israel

by Abraham Ben-Zvi

This volume seeks to reconstruct the process by which the Kennedy administration decided to sell to Israel Hawk surface-to-air missiles. It argues that both domestic considerations and political calculations were part of a highly complex decision made by members of Washington's high policy elite.

140 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2002

Reviews

[Mirko Kriskovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Strange conclusions.
Deals with the Kennedy administration sale of Hawk missiles to Israel.
Kennedy was under the impression that he could obtain concessions from Israel regarding Palestinian refugees, the Johnson plan called for settlement of refugees back where they came from (as per International Law) low number at that (1000 to 1500), he also hoped Israel would allow inspection of its nuclear weapons development.
Kennedy’s advisors warned him that Israel wasn’t going to negotiate, and likely to preemptively strike its neighbours (they did in 1967).
Kennedy got nothing, Israel got superior air defence system.
Extensive references.

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of many works that the author has written about the relations between the United States of America and Israel. It was closely followed by a similarly detailed study of the succeeding, the Johnson, administration. Detailed, documented, thorough, this and Dr. Ben-Zvi's other books are extremely useful for anyone seeking to understand how the U.S.A. became so engaged with the interests in Israel.