Israel’s Ambassador to Washington Simcha Dinitz said today that there was no danger of a general deterioration of Israeli-United States relations. But Dinitz, who arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to participate in the preparatory talks for Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger’s visit here Thursday, said that there were several “worrying appearances” in the relations between the two countries recently.
There was no logic in the recent American vote condemning Israel in the United Nations, Dinitz explained, and this should be a source of anxiety. At the same time, he noted that the American government continues to provide military and financial aid to Israel.
Earlier, U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Keating met with Foreign Minister Abba Eban in Jerusalem to discuss Kissinger’s forthcoming visit. The meeting, called at Keating’s request, also reportedly touched on Israel-U.S. relations. Israeli officials have been expressing concern about the U.S. intention to sell weapons to Egypt and by the failure of the U.S. to veto or at least abstain in the Security Council vote which condemned Israel’s raid into Lebanon.
Dinitz said that while the goal of the talks with Kissinger was clear–disengagement with Syrian forces–what is at stake is the price Israel will have to pay. But he said the Israeli government will decide what price it is ready to pay. Meanwhile, Kissinger left Algeria and was scheduled to meet Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in Alexandria today reportedly to discuss Israeli-Syrian disengagement and the Palestinian issue.
In Jerusalem, tight security precautions are being taken in preparation for Kissinger’s arrival The King David Hotel, where Kissinger, his wife, Nancy, and a group of 40 persons will stay, is being heavily guarded. The hotel has reserved 100 rooms for the Kissinger entourage and the Secretary and his wife will get a special sixth-floor suite. While Kissinger and Eban will be conferring, Eban’s wife, Suzie, will be showing Mrs. Kissinger around Jerusalem. Mrs. Kissinger’s visit here is expected to arouse tremendous public attention.
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