Second–and as you probably know–one reason for the large number of Russian-born Israelis is that Russia has long been renowned for its anti-semitism, dating back to the Czarist pogroms, continuing through the Soviet period, and (I would suppose), lingering into the present day. The USSR was a steadfast opponent of Zionism (in U.N. votes, international rhetoric, etc.), but it is hard to see that as a purely political position, rather than as an ideological “cover story” for that deep and ancient anti-semitism. Of course, the flip-side of that is that sometimes charges of anti-semitism are brandished to silence Israel’s critics, but as the old joke goes (to wrap up the topic in way too glib a manner), just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.

There’s more there to tease out, of course–lots, lots more. But maybe the threads that are most germane to your overall project are the ones connecting Israel to the Cold War.