Today in Israeli History: May 10 – May 16

May 10, 2010 — Israel is Invited to Join OECD

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joins OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría at the induction ceremony May 27, 2010. OECD.

The 31-member Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development unanimously votes to invite Israel to join the group, which fosters prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being and uses evidence-based standards to solve social, economic and environmental challenges. Israel is inducted into the OECD on May 27. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credits the drive and ingenuity of Israel’s citizens.

May 11, 1953 — Dulles Travels to Middle East

Using the information gained during his May fact-finding trip, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles delivers a speech on Middle East policy in June 1953. Courtesy of David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies.

U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles arrives in Cairo to begin a 2½-week fact-finding mission to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, India, Pakistan and Libya. Dulles emphasizes that the new administration of Republican President Dwight Eisenhower is not beholden to American Jewish interests and is determined to take a balanced approach on policy and aid toward Israel and its Arab neighbors.

May 12, 1965 — Israel, W. Germany Begin Diplomatic Ties

West Germany’s first ambassador to Israel, Rolf Pauls (left), meets with Israeli President Zalman Shazar and Foreign Minister Golda Meir after presenting his credentials Aug. 19, 1965. By Moshe Pridan, Israeli Government Press Office, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Israel and West Germany establish official diplomatic relations, completing a process of increasing connections that began with Israel’s acceptance of Holocaust reparations in 1952. The relationship is controversial, including the naming of a career German military officer, Rolf Pauls, as the first ambassador to Israel. Egypt, Iraq and Syria are among the Arab states that respond by cutting off relations with West Germany.

May 13, 1975 — Israel, U.S. Sign Economic Pact

U.S. Treasury Secretary William Simon (left) is greeted by Israeli Defense Minister Shimon Peres in Tel Aviv on July 18, 1974. The visits lays the groundwork for the economic pact signed the following May. By Moshe Milner, Israeli Government Press Office, CC BY-SA 3.0.

The United States and Israel sign a broad economic agreement at the end of a summit chaired by U.S. Treasury Secretary William Simon and Israeli Foreign Minister Yehoshua Rabinowitz in Washington. The pact focuses on four areas: economic cooperation, particularly investment in Israeli industry; elimination of double taxation on income earned in both countries; loan guarantees for investments in Israel; and increased bilateral trade.

May 14, 1947 — Soviet Envoy Backs One-State Solution

Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko (center) speaks with U.N. Secretary-General Trygve Lie (left) and Poland’s Alfred Fiderkiewicz before the General Assembly meeting May 15, 1947, at which a special commission on Palestine is approved. United Nations.

Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko addresses a special U.N. General Assembly session on Palestine and calls for the British Mandate to give way to one state shared by Jews and Arabs. But after recognizing the Jewish right to self-determination and Arab claims, Gromyko says the Soviet Union could support partition if a special U.N. commission determines that enmity between the groups prevents a unitary state.

May 15, 1941 — Palmach is Founded

Palmach commander Yitzhak Sadeh (left) and Yigal Allon review troops in 1948.

The Yishuv’s Haganah military organization forms the Palmach as an elite division to protect Jews against any attack by the Axis powers or Arabs during World War II. The name is an abbreviation of Plugot Mahatz (Strike Force). Led by Yitzhak Sadeh, the Palmach has six units: three ground, one naval, one aerial and one intelligence. After the war, the Palmach smuggles in tens of thousands of Jewish refugees.

May 16, 1967 — Egypt Tells Sinai Peacekeepers to Leave

U.N. Secretary-General U Thant (second from left) meets with Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser (center) on May 24, 1967, in a futile effort to prevent war between Israel and its Arab neighbors. United Nations.

Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser requests that the United Nations withdraw its peacekeeping force from the Sinai, effectively ordering the troops to leave because they need Egypt’s permission to stay on Egyptian land. The removal of the U.N. Emergency Force, which has been in place since the 1956 Suez crisis, eliminates a crucial obstacle to fighting between Egypt and Israel, and the Six-Day War begins 20 days later.

Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.