What Happened the First Time an Israeli Leader Met With a US President
When Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House on Monday, it will mark the latest in a long line of similar meetings since the country was founded in 1948, there have been more than 100 visits to the U.S. by its prime ministers and presidents. The first took place just days after Israel was established in May 1948. After being elected president May 14 of that year, the Zionist leader Chaim Weizmannwho had been in New York City when the news cametraveled to Washington to meet President Harry Truman in Washington. Not everyone, however, was happy about the situation, as TIME reported, The dispute over the role of Israel in the lives of American Jewsa debate that has yet to be resolveddidn't put a damper on the celebratory visit. Weizmann had what TIME reported was a 25-minute chat with President Truman, during which the new head of state "presented Truman with a Torah covered in blue velvet," TIME noted. "Confided Harry Truman I always wanted one.'", Read more about Chaim Weizmann, here in the TIME Vault A Long Road