The belief that the time has come for the United States Government to express itself with greater clarity on its security commitments to Israel was expressed here last night by Ambassador Eban on “Face the Nation, ” a national television program. He also called for Great Power guarantees to the Middle East states, including Israel.
He asked U.S. arms for Israel as a deterrent to aggression, on the same free basis which the United States has provided the Arab states with arms. He noted that the new regime in Iraq had benefited from vast quantities of U.S. munitions previously shipped to that country.
A summit meeting should strengthen the independence and integrity of the Middle East states, promote direct negotiations between states of that region and end indirect aggression, he said. On the chances of a direct meeting of Israel with the Arabs, Mr. Eban said Israel had always been willing and that it was up to the Arabs. A very grave threat to Israel security would develop in the event of Jordanian collapse, Ambassador Eban said. He would not answer hypothetical questions on possible Israeli military measures in that contingency.
Questioned about a possible negotiated Middle East settlement at a UN summit meeting, Mr. Eban said he doubted whether Israel-Arab differences were really the main current problem in the region. He pointed out there was no direct connection of Israel with recent developments in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and the Sudan. He attributed major current difficulties to general anti-Western ferment.
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