Office of the Historian

38. Handwritten Note Prepared by the Ambassador to Israel (Lewis)1

Camp David, September 8, 1978

[Omitted here is Lewis’s brief handwritten notation on bilateral U.S.-Israeli discussion beginning at 5 p.m., Thursday, September 7. For the memorandum of conversation of this meeting, see Document 34.]

9/8/78 Weizman/Brown Talk (Brown debrief to SWL)

—EW had big fight with MB on settlements just before lunch today. EW pessimistic. MB dug in—already working up his fallback position for home. Describes MB as being in euphoric mood characteristic of pre-fight.

—Told him $1B FMS will be max. limit. EW will have to look at his budget, made want [unclear] more for tanks & artillery modernization;

Brown prob. can’t come before Jan.—could send McGiffert there sooner, or Ezer could come if he prefers.

HB—given $1B level, maybe no force expansion possible; (EW agreed—though need replace tanks.) Recog. modern technology edge; he is working on; no promises—but hopeful.

  1. Source: Department of State, U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv, Principal Officer Program Files, Lot 85F104, Personal for Ambassador Lewis—Sensitive Notes 1978. No classification marking.↩