New York, or Washington DC?

Because of antisemitism. The USA had strict quotas for Jewish immigration. There were ships full of Jewish refugees, that were refused entry and had to turn around. Many of those on the shops died later in the Holocaust.

The British also had put restrictions on Jewish immigration to the mandate of Palestine during the 1940s. Ships filled with Jewish refugees were forced to Cyprus where they were kept prisoner in camps.

During Israel’s war of independence in 1948, the USA had an arms embargo against it.