recognition without relations 109of relations? How does one explain the peculiar policy of recognition with-
out relations?
While the issue of the recognition of Israel has been frequently com-
mented upon, there is no unanimity among scholars.^1 Traditional under-
standing on this issue has been overtaken by later developments and
fresh evidence. When was the request made? Within hours of its estab-
lishment on the Sabbath eve of May 14, 1948, Israel sought recognition
from the international community. Prime Minister Nehru off ered two
diff erent dates as to when Israel made a request to India. Speaking at the
Constituent Assembly in August 1948, he declared: “A tele gram was re-
ceived in the middle of June 1948 from Monsieur Moshe Shertok [later
Sharett], Foreign Minister of the Provisional Government of the State of
Israel, containing a request for recognition of the Jewish State.”^2 Some
still consider this to be accurate.^3 The mid- June date gives an impression
that India was not high on Israel’s list of priorities and that its delayed
request was an expression of its dis plea sure over India’s opposition to the
partition plan.
The publication in 1985 of Nehru’s Letters to Chief Ministers off ered a
new and earlier date. On May 20, 1948, in his fortnightly letter to the
heads of Indian states, the Indian premier acknowledged that the govern-
ment had received a formal request from Israel for recognition.^4 This is
closer to the actual date. Israeli documents indicate that Shertok wrote to
Nehru (who was also serving as India’s minister of external aff airs) for
recognition. The cable was sent on Monday, May 17— the second workday
after the declaration of Israeli in de pen dence.^5 It was received by the In-
dian foreign offi ce on the following day.^6 Despite the Indian opposition to
the partition plan, Israel was quick to seek formal recognition from New
Delhi.
On May 19, Eliahu Epstein, the Washington representative of Israel’s
provisional government, met the Indian chargé d’aff airs and handed over
a letter notifying the proclamation of the state of Israel. He felt that be-
cause of “interruption of cable communication between Israel and other
countries,” an offi cial communication might not have reached New Delhi.^7
On May 21, within a week of the establishment of Israel, the Indian For-
eign Ministry prepared a note on recognition and highlighted the UN
angle: “the admission of a State to membership in the United Nations
will be eff ected by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recom-
mendations of the Security Council. Israel’s application will therefore be