Israel Survived an Early Challenge With War Planes Smuggled by U.S. Vets
World War II aviators risked their lives in 1948 in a secret operation to smuggle weapons and planes to the Israeli military, defending the newly-created Jewish state in its first war with Arab neighbors. In a trial 70 years ago, leaders of the mission were found guilty of violating the U.S. Neutrality Act. At that time, relations between the United States and Israel were rocky, an atmosphere that is newly relevant today.
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