Early American Support for the Establishment of Israel

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Jul 17, 2001

Warren Harding took office as President in 1921. There was some disagreement in the American government over continued support for the commitment to the establishment of a Jewish national homeland as called for in the Balfour Declaration. Harding himself put that internal debate to rest by stating, “It is impossible for one who has studied at all the services of the Hebrew people to avoid the faith that they will…be restored to their historic national home….”

Months later he wrote, “I am very glad to express my approval and hearty sympathy for the effort of the Palestine National Fund in behalf of the restoration of Palestine as a homeland for the Jewish people.”

In June 1922, the U.S. Congress passed Joint Resolution 322: “That the United States of American favors the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of Christian and all other non-Jewish communities in Palestine, and that the holy places and religious buildings and sites in Palestine be adequately protected.” Harding signed the resolution that September.

Two years later, with Calvin Coolidge as President, the United States formally signed a treaty with Great Britain recognizing its mandate over Palestine. Since the Balfour Declaration was part of the British mandate, the United States again formally endorsed the idea of Jewish homeland.

Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, it has been United States policy to guarantee the security of the Jewish homeland.