TRACING THE LYNDON JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION’S APPROACH TOWARDS ISRAEL: COLD WAR CONCERNS AND THE U.S.A.'S ABSTENTION FROM 1967 UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 2253

Abstract

On 27th June 1967, the State of Israel officially extended its jurisdiction to “East Jerusalem.” In response to what was perceived as an annexation of “East Jerusalem”, the United Nations called upon Israel to “rescind all measures” taken to “alter” the status of Jerusalem through United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2253. The USA, however, abstained from voting for United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2253. This thesis traces the Lyndon Johnson administration’s approach towards Israel, culminating in the USA’s abstention from UNGA Resolution 2253 on 4th July 1967. I argue that it was ultimately Cold War considerations that led the USA to abstain from voting for UNGA resolution 2253.