Israel Not Seeking Proportionately More Arms, Economic Aid That It Obtained in the Past Weizman Says

Israeli Defense Minister Ezer Weizman insisted today that his country is not seeking proportionately more military and economic aid from the United States than it has received in the past and explained that the $3.4 billion Israel feels it needs in the next fiscal year–nearly double the current aid figure–was the result primarily of inflation. He conceded that he does not expect to get the Full amount, “not all of it.”

In a wide-ranging interview with correspondent Barbara Walters on the ABC-TV. “Issues and Answers” program, the Israeli defense chief hailed the progress Israel and Egypt have made toward implementing their peace treaty; strongly defended Israel’s attacks on terrorist bases in Lebanon, declaring that they will not be renewed unless the present quiet on the Lebanese front is broken; spoke optimistically of the prospects of agreement on autonomy for the West Bank and Gaza Strip; expressed his views on Israeli settlement policy; and, when pressed by Walters, offered his opinions on the presence of Russian troops in Cuba.

Weizman was also optimistic that agreement will be reached between Israel, Egypt and the U.S. on the issue of peace-keeping forces in Sinai. The Defense Minister, in Washington to discuss his country’s future military needs and other matters with American officials, will be joined by Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan and Egyptian Defense Minister Kamal Hassan Ali this week for a meeting with Secretary of State Cyins Vance on the Sinai. problem. He predicted a solution “within the next 72 hours.”

EXPLAINS NEED FOR NEW WEAPONS

Asked why Israel needs expensive new weaponry at a time when it is cementing peace with its largest and strongest neighbor, Egypt, Weizman stressed the inroads of inflation One billion dollars today is not what it was five years ago, he said. He noted further that Israel cannot ignore the military threat posed by the Arab rejectionist states, Principally Syria and Iraq, which, he said, mustered 5000 tanks and 1000 combat planes between them.

Weizman said Israel did not seek to enlarge its defense forces but to maintain their high qualitative standard. He dismissed the allegation made by PLO chief Yasir Arafat on the “Issues and Answers” program last Sunday that Israel possessed 10-15 atomic bombs. He said Israel’s defenses were based entirely on conventional means. Asked by Walters to state flatly whether or not Israel has atomic weapons, Weizman said the answer was “no.”

On the question of Israel’s request for joint production rights for U.S. fighter planes, Weizman said Defense Secretary Harold Brown has not said anything definite one way or the other. He explained that the purpose of his visit was to present Israel’s views on its future arms needs and future technological developments and to open the rood for future discussions. He said Israel itself has not decided yet which plane–the F-16 or F-18–it would want to manufacture. He said the matter of re-export of Israel-made aircraft with American components was also a matter of continuing discussion.

SITUATION IN LEBANON

Weizman described Lebanon as a “very unfortunate, torn-up, mixed-up country, “whose problems were created by the presence there of 15,000 armed PLO terrorists and 30,000 Russian equipped Syrian troops. He said Israel’s policy of striking PLO bases was solely to prevent terrorist raids from Lebanese soil that have taken a tragic toll of civilian lives in Israel.

He conceded that Lebanese civilians were killed in the Israeli attacks but only because the PLO planted their bases among the civilian population. He noted that Lebanon has been quiet for the past four weeks and said if that situation continues, there will be no more Israeli attacks.

ISSUE OF SETTLEMENTS

On the controversial issue of settlements on the West Bank, Weizman claimed that Israel has been criticized more by the U.S. than by Egypt. He cited the “sacrifice” Israel made in agreeing to return all of Sinai to Egypt, including the dismantling of 16-17 settlements. He warned that anyone who thought the same solution could be applied on other fronts was mistaken. However, he said he supported settlements only for security purposes and only on government owned land. He said he opposed the expropriation of Arab-owned land for settlements.

With respect to the autonomy negotiations, Weizman said Israel’s hope, as yet unrealized, was that Jordan would join the talks as envisioned in the Camp David agreements. Israel will “stick exactly to what we signed” at Camp David, he said, which precludes bringing Arafat and the PLO into the negotiations. He characterized the Camp David accords as a “temporary solution” that would open the way to a final status for the West Bank and Gaza and eventual peace with Jordan.

Weizman said he could not advise the U.S. how to act with respect to the presence of 3000 Russian troops in Cuba. Asked by Walters if he thought they were combat troops or only advisors he said he believed their role was advisory, teaching the Cubans how to “go out in the world” to help further Soviet policy in Angola, Latin America and other areas He said he did not think they were aimed against the U.S. He noted that Israel too has a problem with some 4000 Soviet advisors in Syria.