Nixon, Israel Talks to Center on Long-term Aid

President Nixon’s talks with Israeli leaders when he arrives here for a one-day visit June 16 are expected to center on long term military and economic accords between the U.S. and Israel which were discussed with Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger when he was here and remain to be worked out in detail and formalized, it was reported today. The report followed Kissinger’s statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Friday that the U.S. had agreed to negotiate military aid to Israel on a long term basis. This is something long sought by Israel and is an apparent concession arising from the Egyptian and Syrian disengagement agreements requiring Israel to yield territory it captured from those countries in the 1967 war.

Government sources would neither confirm nor deny reports today that Premier Yitzhak Rabin, Defense Minister Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Yigal Allon have been invited to Washington for detailed discussions of the accords later this month and in July.

(Kissinger, questioned on the Administration’s nearly $1 billion requested aid program for Israel and seven Arab countries, told the Senators that it reflected America’s “vital stake in a lasting Middle East settlement.” On the agreement with Israel, he said “We agreed on a process for multi-year arms programs for Israel rather than do it on a year-by-year basis.” He said the agreement so far was only on the process and not on a specific program. According to one U.S. source, Israel was reportedly thinking in terms of a ten year program but the new program will be on a five year basis. The sources said the agreement was an oral one but this memorandum may have been exchanged with Kissinger.)

(The discussions reportedly took place during Kissinger’s visits to Jerusalem last month in connection with the Israeli-Syrian disengagement accord. At that time, Israeli officials were said to have stressed concern over their security in light of the projected Israeli withdrawal from Arab territory. They emphasized the need for a long term arrangement to provide a complete U.S. arms aid program at a set rate without bargaining that occurs each time Israel seeks to buy more weapons from the U.S., the sources said.)

U.S.-SAUDI PACT SIGNED

(The U.S. and Saudi Arabia signed comprehensive military and economic agreements in Washington yesterday which both sides hailed as a “milestone” in U.S.-Saudian relations and which American officials hoped would serve as a model for cooperation with other Arab countries. The accords, which provide for joint economic cooperation and military cooperation commissions were signed by Secretary of State Kissinger and Prince Fahd Ihn Abdul Aziz al Saud, half brother of King Faisal and heir to the throne.)

Meanwhile an advance party from the White House has arrived in Israel to begin talks with Israeli officials in detailed preparation for Nixon’s visit. They are meeting with Foreign Ministry teams on arrangements which include security for the Presidential party and the political talks.

Nixon will meet with Premier Yitzhak Rabin and his Cabinet ministers and will call on former Premier Golda Meir, it was learned today. He will be given a State Dinner by President Ephraim Katzir and will visit the Yad Vashem holocaust memorial, It is not known whether Nixon will tour the country beyond visiting the holy places of the three faiths in Jerusalem.

By David Landau