Anchors of Alliance: How the Italian Royal Navy Shaped the Israeli Navy and Contributed to the Establishment of the State of Israel

This article explores the strategic alliance between the Italian Royal Navy and the Jewish Yishuv in Mandatory Palestine after World War II. It highlights two main contributions: facilitating Aliyah Bet, the clandestine immigration of thousands of Holocaust survivors to Palestine by sea, and training recruits for the nascent Israeli navy. These efforts, the article argues, were instrumental in the eventual establishment of the State of Israel. While Aliyah Bet has received considerable scholarly attention, the Italian navy’s involvement in supporting and shaping Israel’s maritime forces remains largely overlooked. This study seeks to illuminate that crucial yet understudied dimension.

Women’s Contested Integration into the U.S. Military and the Persistent Inequities That Affect Their Health and Well-Being,” by Veronica X. Vela and Daniel Habib, 163–75

This paper surveys the progressive integration of women into the military and women’s compensation and benefits during and after their service. The study traces the historical milestones of women’s military participation, highlighting differences in military status, compensation and benefits. Over time, the need for larger forces led to the expansion of women’s roles and movement towards equality in military status, pay and rank. Once women secured equality in these areas, however, differences in benefits and healthcare remained. Today, women veterans represent a rapidly growing demographic, yet inequities persist.