The Gradual Changes of the Attitude of Czechoslovak Diplomacy toward the Arab-Israeli Conflict during the 1948–1967 Period

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of Czechoslovak foreign policy towardsselected actors of Arab-Israeli conflict in 1948–1967. Once very friendlyrelations of Czechoslovakia with Israel were soon replaced by a graduallydeveloping cooperation with some Arab actors. However, even thispartnership encountered several diffcult moments. Despite long-termideological disputes with Arab nationalist leaders, Czechoslovakiademonstrated unconditional support for the Arab coalition in the Six-DayWar (1967), and the pro-Arab orientation had become the unquestionableline of Czechoslovak Middle East policy in the Cold War. Since the article isbased on the New Cold War History approach, in addition to the previouslyunpublished information from the archival documents it also aims to offer apartial interpretation of Czechoslovakia’s diplomatic position as a satellitestate of the Soviet Union with regard to its foreign policy strategies towardsselected Middle Eastern Third world countries in the first two decades ofthe Cold War.