Israel circles revealed today that Israel diplomats this week will seek a final yes or no answer from the State Department on Israel’s arms application. Israelis, meanwhile, have made it known that they believe a “maybe” answer could now be considered the same as a negative response.
The present American position on the arms list is depicted by Israel circles here as prejudicial to Israel efforts to buy arms from Western European countries. European nations are looking to Washington for guidance.
It was pointed out here that many months have elapsed since Secretary of State Dulles promised Israel “sympathetic consideration” on arms, months during which Communist arms have flowed to Egypt and Western arms went to the Arabs.
Israel will try to elicit a definite and formal reply, if possible before Secretary Dulles departs March 2 for the Karachi conference. If the answer is to be “no,” they feel adequately mature to have the benefit of such definitive information. Clarification of the American position is being sought because of the confusing and contradictory statements made last week by Mr. Dulles in his appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Israel circles emphasize that they are not seeking armed parity with the Arabs but only request that specified minimal demands be met so that Israel may have at least a certain level of security.
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