Behind the Headlines Concern That the U.S. May Withhold Weapons to Israel As Pressure Move

–A series of developments with respect to American military supplies to Israel since the Carter Administration took office has raised fears in Israeli circles that the U.S. may withhold weapons to coerce Israel into accepting its settlement plan for the Middle East.

The latest manifestation of this approach was the State Department’s notification last Friday that Israel will not be included on the top priority list of American arms recipients. That list includes the NATO countries and Japan.

Israeli circles say the notification was unwarranted because Israel never has received equal or preferential treatment in weapons systems deliveries, except for the F-15 jet fighters which Israel got at the same time as West Germany. The American statement therefore did not represent any change of policy but could be construed as a form of pressure, the circles said.

That view gained credibility in light of what some Israelis see as a subtle change in the American military supply relationship with Israel. The U.S. veto of the sale of 25 Kfir jet fighters to Ecuador and the Administration’s request to Congress to pass legislation that would force countries exporting arms systems which include American technology or know-how to obtain permission from Washington even before approaching a potential customer, are seen here as part of the same pattern. The requested legislation in fact is believed to be aimed primarily at controlling Israel’s arms industry.

FEAR REINS BEING TIGHTENED

Other disturbing developments were the Carter Administration’s decision not to honor President Ford’s commitment to sell Israel cluster bombs and the FLIR night vision system and its refusal–after prolonged delays–of Israel’s request to produce part of the 250 F-16 jet fighters it intends to buy from the U.S. The refusal of the cluster bombs was, in fact, the first time a new Administration reversed a pledge by a former Administration and had the effect of narrowing Israel’s military potential.

Some sources have expressed fear that the U.S. is tightening the reins on military supplies in order to soften Israeli opposition to an American-imposed Middle East peace settlement. Despite repeated assurances from President Carter, Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and other American officials that the U.S. has no intention of trying to impose a solution of the Middle East conflict, there is a gnawing suspicion here that an American plan does exist and will be unveiled sooner or later.

The sources say that all Israel can do now is lessen its dependence on American military equipment by expanding its own weapons producing capability. Israel’s largest manufacturer of weapons systems, Israel Aircraft Industries, is preparing to produce a military helicopter within the next four years and has developed blueprints for a new, sophisticated combat jet, a second generation Kfir. The Air Force has not yet approved the plans but if the present American attitude persists it will have no choice, the sources said.