With the support of the EAJC, Russia and Israel will publish classified diplomatic documents

On April 15, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) announced the preparation for publication of the volume "Soviet-Israeli Relations. Documents. 1954-1967". This will be the second part of the collection; the first part was published in 2000 and covered documents from the period of 1941 to 1953. The second volume will represent the most comprehensive compilation of bilateral relations documents, featuring over 700 encrypted telegrams. The list of documents scheduled for publication is expected to be approved during joint Russian-Israeli consultations in June. The volume is scheduled for release in 2021. The publication is being prepared with the support of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress.

According to Boris Morozov, research fellow at Tel Aviv University and the head of the Israeli editorial team, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declassified over 800 encrypted telegrams for the first time, while the Israeli side has declassified documents from Nativ and the Bar Commission.

«These are extraordinary documents, despite covering a period of deteriorating relations. This era encompasses the Suez Crisis and the Six-Day War, which ultimately led to the severance of relations in June 1967. It covers the Israeli struggle for the repatriation of Jews from the USSR and the establishment of a massive movement in the West addressing this issue. Concurrently, this was a period when the Soviet Union sought to establish its presence in the Middle East. It includes arms supplies to Syria and the United Arab Republic — all that was so painful for both sides. The fact that we are publishing these documents is highly significant today. In a sense, it serves as a benchmark for evaluating the current relations between our states», Boris Morozov stated.

«By studying the history of our relations, we can understand each other more easily, and learning the lessons of the past always leads to strengthening mutual trust and developing constructive cooperation», Nadezhda Barinova, Director of the History and Records Department of the MFA of Russia, commented on the joint Russian-Israeli project.

The presentation of the project at MGIMO was also attended by the Israeli Ambassador to Russia, Gary Koren. «The more documents are declassified, the better for future generations of historians», he noted.

Director General of the EAJC, Dr. Haim Ben-Yakov:

«We are confident that such projects contribute to the goals of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress. First and foremost, we operate to ensure that the civil societies of Israel and the countries hosting communities represented in the EAJC understand each other better. Our visit to MGIMO is symbolic. This is the institution that trains future diplomats and representatives of Russia in various fields. We aim to present to them the truth about Israeli society — that Israel is not merely a nation at war, but a nation that preserves history, opposes the rewriting of history, and strives to ensure that both citizens and the global academic community know the historical truth. Unlike the period covered in this volume, when civil societies fought for Soviet Jews to freely emigrate or establish Jewish cultural institutions here in the USSR, today civil societies work to bring our countries closer, ensuring that people experience the tangible benefits of good bilateral relations — in business, culture, healthcare, and education. It is remarkable that scholars and representatives of international Jewish organizations can unite to build bridges between states, countries, governments, and ministry officials. This is the comprehensive approach we advocate».