Foreign Minister Yigal Allon indicated on his return from the U.S. today that a thawing process had begun in Israeli-American relations but that the chill which set in after the collapse of the interim talks conducted by Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger last month is still felt.
Allon’s week-long tour, criss-crossing the U.S. on behalf of the United Jewish Appeal, wound up yesterday with a three-hour meeting with Kissinger in Washington. Allon described the meeting as the beginning of a renewed dialogue which would be continued between the U.S. and Israel. He said that in retrospect he did not regret the visit, though he admitted to doubts before embarking on it.
Sources close to the Foreign Minister said they “hoped that the improvement in relations would be reflected not just in atmospherics”–meaning that they anticipated movement in the suspended negotiations with Washington over new arms contracts.
But Allon put that speculation to rest when he said that while the flow of military hardware already contracted for was continuing at the agreed pace, no contracts have been signed yet on “certain elements that were promised.” He seemed to be referring to negotiations for Israel’s purchase of the new F-15 jet fighters and the “Lance” ground-to-ground missile. The negotiations were suspended during the Ford Administration’s current reassessment of American Mideast policy.
EXAMINED FUTURE OPTIONS
Allon told reporters on his arrival that he and Kissinger had agreed not to divulge the details of their talk. He acknowledged that they could not avoid discussion–including some discussion that was “not easy”–over the failure of last month’s Israeli-Egyptian negotiations. But, Allon said, the burden of his meeting with Kissinger was an examination of future options. He said he had expressed Israel’s desire to keep up the diplomatic momentum and the view that there was still room for a settlement with Egypt. “All the options are open,” Allon declared.
A source close to the Foreign Minister said Allon had detected no change in U.S. policy toward the PLO in his talks with Kissinger and that he had not raised the possibility of a meeting between President Ford and Premier Yitzhak Rabin.
MEETING WITH JEWISH LEADERS, TOUCHING
Referring to his meetings with American Jewish leaders, in five regional meetings of the UJA, with Israel Bond Organization officials, and at his briefing of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Allon said the experience was deeply moving, He described his encounters with American Jewry as “both moving and encouraging” and said he had been able to explain in detail to the Jewish leadership groups Israel’s position in the recent negotiations with Egypt for an interim Sinai accord. He said he found “total identity with Israel” among American Jews.
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