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Israel International Relations: International Recognition of Israel

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Israel International Relations: Table of Contents|Missions Abroad|U.S.-Israel Relations|

On May 14, 1948, the day the British Mandate over Palestine expired, the Jewish People's Council officially approved a proclamation declaring the establishment and independence of the State of Israel.

The United States was the first country to recognize Israel when President Harry Truman granted de-facto recognition eleven minutes after the proclamation of independence. Three days later, the USSR granted Israel de-jure recognition. Nearly a year after its creation, on May 11, 1949, Israel was admitted as the 59th member of the United Nations.

At least 149 countries officially recognize Israel, though a number of countries have suspended or severed their diplomatic relations. Twenty-five countries have never recognized Israel.

May 14, 1948 - December 31, 1948 (21 Countries)

Country
Date
May 14
Russia (USSR)
May 17
May 18
May 18
May 18
May 18
May 19
May 19
May 24
May 24
June 11
June 11
June 19
June 19
June 27
September 6
September 11
November 8
December 4
December 29

 

 

January 1, 1949 - May 11, 1949 (33 Countries)

 

 

Country
Date
Country
Date
Cuba **
January 14
February 15
January 24
February 22
January 25
February 26
January 29
March 1
January 29
March 15
February 1
March 15
February 2
March 28
February 2
April 16
February 4
May 11
February 5
May 11
February 7
May 11
February 8
May 11
February 9
May 11
February 11
May 11
Liberia
February 11
May 11
February 12
May 11
February 14
  

 

 

May 11, 1949 - Present (94 Countries)

 

 

Country
Date
Country
Date
Country
Date
Jan 15, 1950
May 11, 1969
Jan 9, 1992
Iran **
March 14, 1950
August 1970
April 4, 1992
Sept 16, 1950
Sept 24, 1974
April 7, 1992
Sept 17, 1950
Grenada
January 1975
April 16, 1992
Sept 26, 1950
February 1976
May 6, 1993
May 15, 1952
May 12, 1977
July 12, 1993
July 13, 1953
Tonga
June 1977
July 23, 1993
Feb 1957
Samoa
June 1977
Sept 29, 1993
1960
Dominica
January 1978
Gabon
Sept 29, 1993
1960
St Lucia
January 1979
Oct 6, 1993
June 1, 1960
March 26, 1979
November 1993
June 26, 1960
St. Vincent
January 1981
Nov 26, 1993
Aug 30, 1960
Antigua & Barbuda
June 22, 1983
Vanuatu
Dec 16, 1993
Sept 15, 1960
January 1984
Feb 11, 1994
Rep. of Congo
Nov 9, 1960
Kiribati
May 21, 1984
Guinea-Bissau
March 1994
Jan 10, 1961
Tuvalu
July 1984
Andorra
April 13, 1994
Jan 21, 1961
Belize
Sept 6, 1984
July 17, 1994
Ivory Coast
Feb 15, 1961
Jan 17, 1986
Sept 1, 1994
Burkina Faso
July 5, 1961
Marshall Islands
Sept 16, 1987
Oct 2, 1994
Oct 24, 1961
Oct 2, 1991
Oct 3, 1994
Benin
Dec 5, 1961
January 1992
Oct 26, 1994
January 1962
Jan 6, 1992
Nauru
December 1994
January 1962
Jan 8, 1992
March 1, 1995
April 10, 1962
Feb 21, 1992
Oman **
Jan 28, 1996
December 1963
March 1992
April 1996
January 1964
April 1992
Sept 4, 1997
July 1964
April 10, 1992
Sept. 26, 1997
January 1965
April 28, 1992
Oct 28, 1999
May 12, 1965
June 1, 1992
Timor-Leste
Aug 29, 2002
Aug 29, 1967
June 22, 1992
July 12, 2006
September 1968
Seychelles
Sept 1992
July 28, 2011
 
Dec 7, 1992
  


Never Recognized Israel (25 Countries)

North Korea
Bangladesh
Brunei
Comoros
Djibouti
Maldives
Guinea
 
Niger
 

**- Iran, Chad, Cuba, Morocco, Tunisia, Oman and Qatar recognized Israel on the above dates but have since rescinded that recognition.
***Chad restored ties in 2019.

Unverified dates of recognition or non-recognition: Lesotho, Ghana, Gambia, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Togo, Tanzania, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Bhutan, Central African Republic and Burundi

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