Israel Denies Any Commitment to the U.S. Beyond Joint Statement Issued by Begin and Mcfarlane

Israel denied today that it has given any commitment to the United States beyond the joint statement issued last night by Premier Menachem Begin and U.S. State Department Counsellor Robert McFarlane that the “misunderstanding” between the two countries over Israel’s June 7 air attack on Iraq’s nuclear reactor had been “clarified.”

A statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office specifically denied a report in the Washington Post today that Israel had given an oral promise to take into account American interests before using American-supplied weapons in the future. The U.S. suspended delivery of four F-16 jet fighters to Israel in the wake of the Iraqi raid on which American-made aircraft were employed.

CONTENT OF JOINT STATEMENT

The statement, read to reporters last night by McFarlane, with Begin standing by, said: “The governments of the United States and Israel have had extensive discussions concerning the Israeli operation against the atomic reactor near Baghdad. The discussions have been conducted with the candor and friendship that is customary between friends and allies. The governments of the two countries declare that any misunderstanding which might have arisen in the wake of the aforementioned operation have been clarified to the satisfaction of both sides.”

Israeli officials said they regarded the statement, drafted at the second of two meetings between Begin and McFarlane, as a significant diplomatic success for Israel. They said they expected it to open the way for the Reagan Administration to report to Congress that the “clarification” with Israel was satisfactorily concluded and that the suspension of deliveries of the F-16s could be lifted.