Israel Expects Long-term Arms Aid Pact During Nixon Visit

The Israeli government expects an agreement on long-term U.S. military aid to Israel to be signed during President Nixon’s one-day visit here Sunday-Monday and hopes the President will publicly acknowledge it, an authoritative source indicated today. The source said that a joint statement probably would be issued at the close of the 25-hour visit and that Israel would ask the President either to announce the military aid program or at least hint at it.

While Israel wants to review with Nixon the new situation in the Middle East following disengagement accords with Egypt and Syria and discuss possible political and military developments, Israel would prefer not to discuss in detail, at this time, the next phase of the peace moves, the source indicated. Israel would like to leave that to a later date and on a lesser level, but the U.S. might feel differently and want to examine certain issues in depth and detail, the source conceded.

Only one round of political talks is scheduled with Nixon, to be held Monday morning. The talks could go on for several hours if necessary because there is nothing further on the President’s schedule before he departs for Jordan Monday, the source said. The source reiterated the often stated Israeli view that U.S. rapprochement with the Arab states might pose some short-term problems for Jerusalem, but that Israel was confident it would not affect the longer-term American interest in a strong Israel.

The source said that despite the mutuality of U.S. and Israeli interests and their intimate dialogue during the Nixon Administration, the two countries have not, and do not agree on all issues. But the general thrust of American policy since 1967 has been to support Israel politically and militarily and this is due in large measure to Nixon who is regarded as the ultimate U.S. policy maker Therefore, Israel wants to welcome him as warmly as possible, the source said.