Premier Menachem Begin told the Knesset today that he has accepted an invitation to meet President Carter in Washington next month. The invitation was conveyed to him by U.S. Ambassador Samuel Lewis this morning. Begin made the announcement as the U.S. Administration’s declared intention of selling combat aircraft to Egypt and Saudi Arabia aggravated the rift between Washington and Jerusalem over Israeli settlements in the occupied Arab territories.
Begin, replying to motions in a Knesset debate on the state of U.S.-Israeli relations, urged Carter to reconsider his plans to sell 60 F-16 jet fighters to Saudi Arabia and 50 F-5 fighters to Egypt. He claimed that the proposed sales were a threat to the “security of Israel and the process of negotiations.”
He described the American response to Israel’s request for more warplanes as “partial” and expressed hope that additional aircraft would be forthcoming after Defense Minister Ezer Weizman visits Washington to negotiate Israeli military purchases. The U.S. announced yesterday that it would provide Israel with 15 F-15 fighters in addition to the 25 it already has and 75 F-16s.
Stressing his view that military aircraft sales to Egypt and Saudi Arabia posed a grave threat to Israel, Begin said: “In the name of the majority in this House, I appeal to President Carter to reconsider his decision to supply offensive weapons to Egypt and the most sophisticated planes to Saudi Arabia.” He added: “Israel has knowledge that Saudi Arabia has already promised a certain Arab state that those planes will be at its disposal in the event of a new war against Israel.” The Premier did not identify the Arab state.
Begin did not elaborate on the Israeli-U.S. controversy over settlements. He expressed disappointment with the American position enunciated by Secretary of State Cyrus Vance last Friday but observed that the two countries agreed to disagree on the settlements and that it has not affected their basic friendship.
“There have in the past been serious differences with the United States but we overcame them and we will overcome the current ones because of the special friendly relations between Israel and the U.S. emanating from common interests and the real love of the majority of American people for Israel,” Begin said.
WARNING BY LANDAU
The U.S. aircraft sales announcement brought a blast from Begin’s newly appointed Minister-Without-Portfolio Chaim Landau of Herut. Addressing the opening of the 18th Congress of the Maccabi World Union in Tel Aviv last night, Landau declared: “Whoever delivers sophisticated arms into the hands of Israel’s enemies not only is putting peace off and delaying the chances of dialogue but actually brings fire into this region, the real danger of yet another explosion.”
Landau claimed that the decision to sell combat planes to Egypt and Saudi Arabia would stiffen their attitudes. “What we need is negotiations, not from arsenals filled with sophisticated arms, but true negotiations, not from the peak of pyramids but standing on solid, realistic ground.”
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