Vietnam, Jews and the Middle East

In 1967 Moscow created a Middle Eastern crisis in response to Washington''s escalation in Vietnam. America''s Asian focus had left her Atlantic flank vulnerable to Soviet penetration. Israel refused to plant her flag in Saigon, American rabbis led the peace movement and the President threatened to withdraw his support for Israel. The Palestinians embarked on a Vietnamese inspired ''people''s war'' and Moscow interpreted Israeli retaliation as support for US policy in Vietnam. The Six Day War turned Israel into a Soviet nuclear target and transformed some liberals into Neo-Conservatives.