Recognition and Beyond

With the founding of Israel in May 1948, the American labor movement rejoiced. However, it maintained steady pressure on the Truman administration to allow for weapons sales to Israel and to ensure a multi-million dollar U.S. government loan to Israel. In a remarkable sign of AFL and CIO cooperation, AFL President William Green and CIO President Philip Murray visited President Truman in the White House in 1950 to make their case for U.S. support of Israel. Also during the early 1950s, the ILGWU led an effort to fund affordable housing for Israeli workers through the Amun-Israel Housing Coporation. This effort marked the culmination of the American labor movement’s central role in the building of Israel’s infrastructure.