In the Shadow of the Holocaust and the Inquisition

This book analyses the reasons for the failure of all efforts to establish diplomatic relations between Israel and Francoist Spain from the late 1940s to the mid-1970s. Based on research in four countries, it uncovers the political discussions and the diplomatic moves of each country as well as the mutual images common in Spain and Israel, and their influence on both public opinion and policy makers. In the late 1940s the Francoist dictatorship was eager to form ties with the new Jewish state. At that stage it was Israel who rejected any rapprochement with Franco. In the mid-1950s, however, Israel became interested in cultivating a closer relationship with Madrid. Now it was Franco's turn to say 'no'. It took Israel 30 years of diplomatic effort until it managed to normalise relations with Spain. Only in January 1986 did Spain's Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez and Israel's Labour Prime Minister, Shimon Peres, sign the agreement to establish full diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Raanan Rein is a senior lecturer in the Department of History at Tel Aviv University