251. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel1
3980. For Ambassador. Subject: Reply to May 22 Begin Letter.2
1. Please deliver ASAP following letter from the President to Prime Minister Begin.
2. Begin quote:
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
Thank you for your letter of May 22 in which you express your continuing concern about our sale of certain aircraft to Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Knowing how seriously you viewed this matter, I made my decision to send the proposals to the Congress only after I was personally convinced that this transfer of aircraft would not threaten Israel’s security and was important to the broad national interests of the United States. The assurances in Secretary Brown’s letter of May 9 to the Congress3 were specifically intended to help allay the anxieties and meet the concerns which you expressed in your letter. I can assure you, Mr. Prime Minister, that my government and I personally consider these assurances to be binding commitments of the Government of Saudi Arabia and of course we will firmly stand by all agreements which we reach in connection with the sale.
The entire thrust of U.S. policy toward Israel and the Middle East has been to find solutions to the problems of the area that would assure Israel’s long-term security. While working towards the goal of peace, successive American administrations have ensured that the balance of military power in the area clearly is in Israel’s favor. This has been dramatically demonstrated in the period since the October 1973 war. My [Page 1151] administration is determined that this very favorable balance will continue to be maintained.
I was deeply touched by your eloquent words about the deep, unbreakable bonds which unite our two great countries. I share with you the conviction that it is precisely this relationship which will enable us to work together to advance the cause of peace in the coming weeks. End quote.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East File, Subject File, Box 49, Israel: 6–7/78. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.↩
- In his May 22 letter to Carter, Begin requested that the U.S. Government assure Israel that “under no circumstances” would jet fighters sold to Saudi Arabia and Egypt be allowed to “be transferred to a third party nor used against Israel.” Additionally, Begin asserted that “in order to offset the possible danger to Israel in the future, a substantial increase of supply of arms to Israel is essential.” (Letter from Dinitz to Carter; Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders, Box 9, Israel: Prime Minister Menachem Begin, 6–10/77)↩
- Secretary Brown assured Congress in his May 9 letter that the 60 F–15s sold to Saudi Arabia would not be based at the Tabuk airbase, approximately 120 miles from Israel. Additionally, they would not be equipped with air-to-surface missiles or bomb racks, severely limiting Saudi Arabia’s ability to use them for offensive purposes. (Karen Elliot House and Albert R. Hunt, “Carter Offers Face-Saving Compromises To Opponents of Mideast Arms Package,” Wall Street Journal, May 10, 1978, p. 8)↩