The Kennedys and Israel: A Special Relationship

On this episode of "The Kennedy Chronicles" we explore the special relationship between the #Kennedy family and the nation of #Israel.

Young #JFK visited #Palestine in 1939, later again as Senator after the creation of Israel, and as president, cemented U.S. support for Israel by creating our official special relationship in 1961. Kennedy was also the first American president to sell arms to Israel.

Read more about John F. Kennedy's foreign policy towards Israel in this thread:

https://twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer/status/1747893880345722925

President Kennedy's younger brother, Robert F. Kennedy, first visited British Mandate of Palestine in 1948, one month before Israel's Declaration of Independence. Twenty-two years old at the time, he was reporting on the tense situation in the region for The Boston Post. During his stay, he grew to admire the Jewish inhabitants of the area and their fight for freedom in the Israel/Arab war.

#RFK became a staunch defender of Israel and as Senator voted to send the country 50 Phantom Jets for defense. This angered a 24 year-old Palestinian immigrant named Sirhan Sirhan, who cited Kennedy's #Zionism as the reason why he murdered Sen. Kennedy in 1968.

Read more about RFK's relationship with Israel, and how it contributed to his assassination here:

https://twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer/status/1747829384172454243

The third Kennedy brother, Sen. Edward Kennedy, #RFKJr, and all of the Kennedy grandchildren, continue the tradition of their ancestors as committed #Zionists to the present day.

Read more about the successive generations of Kennedys and Israel in this thread:

https://twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer/status/1903241440999727235

Join me and host S.L. Kanathan for a fascinating discussion of the Kennedys and Israel on this week's episode of "The Kennedy Chronicles." Premiers Tuesday, May 27 at 8 PM Eastern.