John F Kennedy
JFK in 1939
Zionists in 1939
Jews demonstrate against the 1939 White Paper in Jerusalem. Photo: Wikimedia/Public Domain
Explosion in Jaffa 1939
An explosion is seen in Jaffa in 1939 blamed on Arabs
- Publication Date:
1939 Letter Written to His Father Following Trip to Palestine
- Location:
Palestine
- Key Findings:
Page 3: Witnessed 13 bombs set off in Jewish quarter all by the Jews themselves. Says Jewish terrorists bomb their own and then claim it as Arabs. Page 2: Jews want complete domination. Page 4 Jews want to establish communist state.
- Resource Link:
- Publication:
JFK Library
“thirteen bombs set off, all in the Jewish quarter, and all set off by Jews.”
In 1939, a young John F. Kennedy embarked on a journey that would provide him with a unique perspective on one of the world’s most enduring conflicts. During his visit to Palestine, then under British mandate, Kennedy observed the escalating tensions firsthand. In a letter written to his father, who was at the time the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Kennedy shared his insights into the situation, which notably leaned towards sympathy for the Palestinian Arabs.
“On the Jewish side there is the desire for complete domination”
JFK Letter to my father page 2, paragraph 3
Kennedy’s observations were not just from a distance; they were grounded in the events he witnessed on the ground. He noted a particularly striking incident where, on his last evening in Palestine, he saw “thirteen bombs set off, all in the Jewish quarter, and all set off by Jews.” This incident, according to Kennedy, was followed by the bombers seeking assistance from the British authorities, subsequently attributing the bombings to Arab assailants.
“After all, Palestine was hardly Britain’s to give away.”
JFK Letter to my father page 4, paragraph 1
This letter from a young Kennedy offers a glimpse into his early thoughts on a conflict that would continue to shape Middle Eastern politics for decades. His firsthand account suggests a complexity in the conflict that often went beyond mere nationalistic or religious divides, highlighting internal dynamics within the Jewish community itself. Kennedy’s reflections on this visit illustrate his initial inclination towards understanding and perhaps favoring the Arab perspective, which he attributed to what he saw as the “unfortunately arrogant, uncompromising attitude” of some Jewish leaders at the time.
“Jewish element composed of the younger group…wish to establish a very liberal, almost communistic form of government.”
JFK Letter to my father page 4
Kennedy’s experience in Palestine as a young man showcases his early engagement with international issues, revealing a nuanced view that would evolve as he matured politically. His observations from that trip underline the intricate layers of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reflecting on how external actions and internal strategies could complicate an already volatile situation.
Read the letter in its entirety below:
