Israel-Soviet Relations 1953-1967

Jewish Chronicle, 29 January 1999
Blanked, by Eric Silver
"In an opening "letter to the reader", Yosef Govrin, retired Israeli ambassador, hopes his book will eliminate some "blank spots" in the history of Israeli-Soviet relations, from the resumption of diplomatic links in 1953 to their severence after the Six-Day War. He may rest assured. His documented study of mutual mischief-making has earned its place on the library shelf, though hardly on the bedside table. This is a book for scholars and diplomats with no concession to the general reader. Its most illuminating chapters show how Israel initiated and orchestrated the campaign for Soviet-Jewish immigration from 1955; and the way clumpsy Soviet diplomacy prepared the ground for the 1967 war..."

Middle Eastern Studies, vol 36, No.1 January 2000
by Rami Ginat
"... This research covers a wide range of subjects relating to the two countries' bilateral relations: diplomacy, trade and commerce, culture, Jewish emigration, ideology – the USSR and the Israeli communist movement; and most importantly, the political and strategic dimension – the deepening of the Soviet penetration into the Arab countries and its effect on the Soviets' attitude towards the Arab-Israeli conflict and consequently on their relations with Israel... This book provides us with some very useful information with regards to Soviet-Israeli relations in this very important historical period, which contained endless events and occurances. It could be a useful source for students and diplomats seeking to learn about the activities of the former Soviet Union in the Middle East within the context of the cold war at its peak..."

International Journal Middle East Studies, 32, 2000
Robert O. Freedman, Baltimore Hebrew University
"This book is a most welcome addition to the literature on Russian-Israeli relations... although there is an extensive body of literature on Russian policy toward Israel (and the rest of the Middle East) after the 1967 war, a gap has existed for many years in the scholarly coverage of Russian-Israeli relations from the days of Stalin in March 1953 until the June 1967 Six-Day-War. Yosef Govrin, retired Israeli Foreign Office official who specialised in relations with the USSR, has gone a long way toward filling this gap. Having the advantage of access to the Israeli archives and internal political debates, Govrin presents a balanced picture of the Soviet-Israeli relationship. Pointing out where, in his opinion, both Israel and the USSR made mistakes in developing their ties. He also goes into great detail on the question of Soviet Jewry (more than half of the book), noting how Israel's efforts to get the Soviet Government to allow Jews to emigrate to Israel was a serious complication factor in the relationship, although the primary cause for the USSR's breaking of diplomatic relations with Israel in June 1967 (Govrin was First Secretary of the Israeli Ambassy at that time) stemmed from Moscow's backing of the radical Ba'athist regime in Syria, which helped precipitate the 1967 war... Besides dealing with the ups and downs of diplomatic relations in the 1953-1967 period and the issue of Soviet Jews, Govrin also has a useful chapter on trade relations, noting how Moscow never lifted the trade embargo it has imposed on Israel after the 1956 war. Another useful chapter is on cultural and scientific relations... This is a very good book, and it should be a reference for scholars for many years to come"