I: Genesis: the Palestine conflict to 1945 -- Security and politics: the context of U.S. policy toward Palestine after 1945 -- Ambivalence: Truman's policy toward Palestine, 1945-1947 -- Diplomacy and conflict: the creation of Israel and the Arab-Israeli war of 1948-1949 -- II: Security commitments: U.S. strategic interests in the Middle East, 1949-1953 -- Presidential passivity: Truman and the peace process, 1949-1953 -- Repatriation versus resettlement: the Palestinian refugee crisis, 1949-1953 -- Holy places: the question of Jerusalem, 1949-1953 -- Tangled web: the U.S. failure to solve multiple controversies, 1949-1953 -- The impact of conflict: U.S. relations with Israel and the Arab states, 1949-1953