Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 1

683.84A322/9–2853: Telegram

No. 676
The Chargé in Israel (Russell) to the Department of State¹

secret
NIACT

Tel Aviv, September 28, 1953—1 p.m.

367. Bennike informed by Consulate General Jerusalem yesterday morning (Deptel 239).²

Foreign Minister called me on telephone from Jerusalem last evening; said he had received letter yesterday morning from General Bennike to which he had replied in afternoon and felt hopeful on possibility of “[compromise]”. Foreign Minister said Israel press had reports from Washington (Gelblum of Haaretz, according to another source) that Department withholding aid pending compliance by Israel with UNTSO’s request. Added that public information United States exercising economic pressure, might make it impossible for Israel to agree to compromise.

Jerusalem Post this morning says Bennike has accepted invitation to call on Foreign Minister today; that according informed observers government ready continue discussions until mutual agreement reached with UN; that Israel will follow no extreme formula in negotiating.

Comment

1. All evidence (including talk with Foreign Minister) continues to support assumption decision commence Banot Yaacov construction hastily taken around middle of August.

2. It is Embassy’s belief decision had following purposes: (a) Create fait accompli on construction; (b) Induce state of mind in Arab Governments that would make impossible approach to water development embodied in TVA study; (c) Raise in UN Israel’s right to all water of Jordan as oblique attack on TVA study; and (d) Change Foreign Ministry from position of isolation, in which it had placed itself by move to Jerusalem into center of controversy. Latter two indicated by completeness with which legal position worked out from beginning (Embtel 309)³ and Foreign Minister’s excessive concern over “very existence of state” in a development Israeli Government itself provoked and which month before it had no intention of undertaking at this time.

3. Re publicity, Embassy suggests neither publicly confirming nor scotching reports.

4. It will be recalled move of Foreign Ministry timed immediately after $6,000,000 emergency release on June 22 so no possibility of utilizing latter as restraint as in case of Banot Yaacov construction and release of FY 1954 funds. Embassy-FOA suggest it may be desirable to state to Israeli Government when figure of FY 1954 aid for Israelis discussed that it constitutes present intention subject to modification as circumstances may require and that purchase requests against quarterly allocations will also be subject to circumstances existing at time.

Russell

1. Repeated to Damascus and Jerusalem.
2. Telegram 239 to Tel Aviv, Sept. 26, requested the Embassy in Israel (in reiteration of telegram 95 to Damascus, repeated to Tel Aviv as 204, Sept. 11) to inform Bennike of the Secretary’s conversation of Sept. 25 with Eban, indicating the intention of the United States to support decisions of the U.N. Truce Supervision Organization unless and until they were reversed by U.N. authority. The Embassy was instructed not to advise Bennike of specific sanctions such as the withholding of economic aid. (683.84A322/9–2653)
3. Document 661.