Moshe Sharett was born Moshe Shertok in the Russian Empire. Together with his family he emigrated to Palestine at age 16, settled in Tel Aviv and became a member of the first graduating class of the Hertzliya High School. His law studies in Istanbul were interrupted by World War 1. After the war he completed his bachelors degree at the London School of Economics. Sharett was involved in several rescue attempts during the Holocaust, including a paratroopers mission into Nazi occupied Europe. On his return to Mandatory Palestine, he supported a moderate armed struggle against the British, which landed him in the Latrun Detention Camp. After his release, he led the political struggle surrounding the UN’s Partition Resolution until its authorisation by the UN General Assembly in November 1947. Sharett served as Israel’s first Foreign Minister and concentrated his efforts in winning international support for the nascent Jewish State. Because Israel’s neighbors refused to accept its existence there were numerous border clashes. While Ben Gurion insisted on retaliating, Sharett felt this weakened Israel’s international standing. This became an ongoing source of conflict between the two. After Ben Gurion retired, Sharett became Prime Minister but his hold on power was tenuous. Ben Gurion returned to politics after the resignation of Defense Minister Pinchas Lavon and Sharett resumed his role as Foreign Minister. Ongoing conflict with Ben Gurion led to his forced resignation from government in 1956. In 1960 Sharett was elected as Chairman of the World Zionist Organisation and the Jewish Agency.

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