Case Urges Administration to Set Aside Aircraft Sales to Egypt, Saudi Arabia

Sen. Clifford Case (R. NJ) believes that the Carter Administration “must set aside the package deal” for aircraft sales to Saudi Arabia and Egypt in order to “get the political negotiations in the Middle East back on the track.” In remarks prepared for delivery tonight at a pro-Israel rally sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey in Wayne, Case said “It is clear to me that this proposed package deal has become an obstacle to achieving peace in the Middle East.”

At the same time, he upheld Israel’s right to receive F-15s and F-16s which the Carter Administration now links to the sale of aircraft to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Case said that when the Israelis agreed to withdraw from strategic areas of Sinai under the 1975 interim agreements, “they showed the necessary political flexibility and the military need for the planes. Now they are doubtful that the United States will make good on its commitments under the agreement,” Case said in his prepared text.

According to the New Jersey lawmaker, “This is not the right time for the United States to propose breaking new ground by the sale of arms to Egypt and Saudi Arabia” and “has caused deep suspicion about American intentions in the Middle East.” Referring to Saudi Arabia’s estimated $50 million annual subvention to the Palestine Liberation Organization, “an organization that kills men, women and children,” Case agreed with Israel’s concern “that the sale of F-15s to Saudi Arabia will further poison the atmosphere in the whole area.”

He said “The proposed sale to Egypt changes a long standing American policy of not giving lethal weapons to that country.” While “sooner or later America will have to help Egypt because Egypt has problems with radical countries like Libya which concern both of us, the proposed sale of jet fighters to Egypt,” Case claimed, “has led Egypt not back to the peace table but further away from it.” (By Helen Silver)