How Ukrainian Vasyl Tarasenko Helped the State of Israel Appear on the World Map

In April-May 1948, Vasily Tarasenko led the Ukrainian SSR delegation at the special session of the UN General Assembly on the "Palestinian problem." At this session, he played a decisive role in the creation of the State of Israel.

He is rightfully considered the creator of the State of Israel.

Ben-Gurion, through Moshe Sharett in a telephone conversation with him on the night of May 14-15, 1948 (on May 14, the independence of the State of Israel was proclaimed in Tel Aviv), conveyed to the Ukrainian diplomat his personal gratitude and that of the Israeli government for his speech at the session of the UN General Assembly, which played a significant role in Israel's fate.

Moreover, Ben-Gurion instructed Moshe Sharett to obtain Tarasenko's consent to award him the title of honorary citizen of Israel. As Moshe Sharett noted at the time, this would have been the first case of granting honorary citizenship to a representative of a foreign state. However, after discussing with Tarasenko the inevitable and quite predictable consequences for him personally and his family at that time, they decided it would be wise to refrain from such a step.
How it happened

Vasyl Yakymovych…

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