Background
Born in Kherson in the Russian Empire (today in Ukraine), Sharett emigrated to Ottoman Palestine as a child in 1906. In 1910 his family moved to Jaffa, then became one of the founding families of Tel Aviv.
politician Prime Minister of Israel
Born in Kherson in the Russian Empire (today in Ukraine), Sharett emigrated to Ottoman Palestine as a child in 1906. In 1910 his family moved to Jaffa, then became one of the founding families of Tel Aviv.
He graduated from the first class of the Herzliya Hebrew High School, even studying music at the Shulamit Conservatory. He then went off to Constantinople to study law at Istanbul University, the same university at which Yitzhak Ben-Zvi and David Ben-Gurion studied. However, his time there was cut short due to the outbreak of World War I. He served a commission as First Lieutenant in the Ottoman Army, as an interpreter.
In 1931 he began his career in Zionist and Israeli diplomacy by joining the Jewish Agency’s political department. In 1933 he became its head following the assassination of Chaim Arlosoroff. In this capacity he was responsible for the foreign policy of the Jewish community in Palestine. He was noted for his moderate and cautious policy, calling for cooperation with the British Mandate. He was one of the leaders in the establishment of the Jewish Brigade in World War II. Sharett led the successful diplomatic effort in the historic United Nations General Assembly, that passed the November 29, 1947, Partition Resolution, giving the State of Israel international legitimacy.
From 1948 to 1956 he was Israel’s first foreign minister, directing his energy to securing international recognition of Israel, negotiating the German reparations agreement (1952), and opening bridges to Asia. He argued that Israel must be a law-abiding nation, a decent and active member of the international community through the United Nations. While he approved a number of activist foreign policy stances, such as refusal to accept all the 1948 Palestinian refugees, he felt that peace would be achieved when the Arab world came to terms with Israel, a long-term process requiring much self-restraint and moderation on the part of Israel. He espoused a low Israeli profile and was attuned to international public opinion and I.J.N. pressure.
By the 1930s he had clashed with David Ben-Gurion over the direction of foreign policy. Ben-Gurion as prime minister led the activist camp, while Sharett was a follower of the more cautious faction associated with Chaim Weizmann. Their differences grew in the early years of statehood, but this did not prevent Sharett from succeeding Ben-Gurion when the latter retired to work in a Negev kibbutz. His period as prime minister (1953-1955) was most difficult as he had to grapple with activist defense minister Pinchas Lavon while his colleagues continued to consult Ben-Gurion. During his premiership a group of young Jews were caught by the Egyptians and accused of sabotage. He was unable to control the Israel army under Moshc Dayan. Lavon was forced to resign in February 1955, paving the way for the return of Ben-Gurion as defense minister. Sharett yielded the premiership to Ben-Gurion in November 1955, when their differences were irreconcilable. Ben-Gurion was planning a war against Egypt, a move vehemently opposed by Sharett. In June 1956 he was forced to resign as foreign minister. He felt that the ensuing Sinai War (October 1956) was a major hindrance on the road to peace, dooming Israel to live by its sword. From 1960 to 1965 he was chairman of the Jewish Agency executive.
He was one of the most cultured Israeli leaders, fluent in seven languages, and an excellent writer and orator. He published a number of works, including poems. His political diary appeared posthumously in five volumes and his 1953-1957 personal diaries were published in eight volumes (all in Hebrew).
He married Tzipora Meirov and they had 3 children.