Finally , the Communist scaffolding came crashing down in 1989 . One after another , the countries of Central and Eastern Europe imploded , to be replaced by post-Communist societies . In the case of Czechoslovakia , it was dubbed the Velvet Revolution , and the country ’ s most prominent dissident during the hard times , poet and playwright Vaclav Havel , was elected president . He quickly emerged as one of the world ’ s leading statesmen and moral voices . And in a sign of things to come , his very first overseas trip was to Israel .
Havel , like a number of his counterparts in the region , understood that one of the most despicable aspects of Communist policy was the anti- Israel , anti-Zionist , and antisemitic policies of the previous regimes . Under instructions from the Kremlin , countries like Czechoslovakia had actively assisted Israel ’ s enemies by providing weapons , training , sanctuary , and financing to terrorist groups , not to mention active support at the UN and other international bodies for every conceivable anti-Israel and anti-Zionist measure .
Having said this , it ’ s important to acknowledge the special role played by Czechoslovakia in Israel ’ s founding . Weapons and training provided by Czechoslovakia to the fledgling Jewish state were crucial to the ability of the Jews to defend themselves , and political and diplomatic support was also forthcoming . And rumor has it that , while the government was also willing to sell weapons to the Arab countries at the time , none of the shipments actually arrived , while cash payments were always demanded in advance . Mysteriously , Jewish fighters were able to get wind of each of the planned deliveries and prevent their arrival .
Needless to say , this sympathetic policy changed rather quickly , as the Communist bloc realized that Israel was not likely to become a socialist ally in the Middle East . Czechoslovakia fell into line behind the increasingly pro-Arab , anti-Israel policies of the Kremlin .
Since democracy ’ s return in 1989 , some things began to move at lightning speed .
On January 1 , 1993 , in what became known as the Velvet Divorce , the country that was put together at the Paris Peace Conference separated
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