Church Says He Did Not Ask for Freeze on Arms Shipments to Israel

Sen. Frank Church (D. Idaho) has explicitly denied that he has suggested a “freeze” on arms shipments to Israel, including the F-15 and F-16 aircraft to which the U.S. has committed itself. Rather, the Senator, a leading member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was suggesting a freeze on the delivery of 60 F-15 aircraft to Saudi Arabia.

A spokesman for Church told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that “we have the State Department to thank” for “a serious misinterpretation of remarks” the Senator had made with regard to arms deliveries to the Middle East.

In a meeting with Secretary of State Cyrus Vance last Wednesday, Church suggested freezing “all new commitments” to the Middle East and the Department, the Senator’s spokesman added, relayed word to Assistant Secretary of State Alfred Atherton in Israel that “all” shipments were to be halted. This prompted Israeli Premier Menachem Begin to hope that Church would not ask for such a freeze.

“My reference Wednesday had nothing to do with past or existing commitments for the sale to Israel of F-16 and F-15 fighter aircraft,” Church said. “My remarks concerned only new sales or new commitments of weapons to the Middle East. The proposal that 60 F-15 aircraft be sold to Saudi Arabia is such a new commitment and should be held in abeyance.”

On the other hand, he stated, “we have existing commitments to Israel for the sale of advanced fighter aircraft, including a written agreement contained in the Sinai Two agreement that the U.S. is resolved to maintain Israel’s defense strength through the supply of advanced types of equipment such as the F-16 aircraft. In addition, Israel has a commitment dating from 1975 for the purchase of 50 F-15s, 25 of which have been supplied. Those are existing commitments and I feel they represent obligations that should be honored by the U.S. government.”