Israeli Press and Jewish Leaders Here and Abroad Caution Against Hasty Conclusions

Reactions in the Jewish press and by Jewish organizations here and abroad to the United States’ official no-sale policy on jets to Israel were generally critical of the Nixon Administration for preserving an arms imbalance favorable to the Arabs. The criticism was tempered, however, by the con-current announcement by Secretary of State William P. Rogers that the U.S. would offer Israel economic aid and replacements for downed Jets. Three major Israeli daily newspapers noted this morning the positive aspects of Washington’s decision against immediate Phantom and Sky hawk sales to Israel. Davar, Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post, while recognizing the “disappointment and concern” expressed by Foreign Minister Abba Eban, pointed out that Soviet failure to similarly limit arms shipments to the Middle East could serve as an excuse for the United States to meet Israel’s plane request at a later date, and to blame the U.S.S.R. for the escalation.

Virtually all the press comment here contained warnings against concluding from the White House decision that the U.S. has ended its special relationship with Israel. The papers observed that Rogers, at his press conference yesterday had for the first time committed the U.S. to replacing Israeli plane losses in combat or in training, assuring “prompt delivery.” Dr. William Wexler. international president of B’nai B’rith told Israelis today not to be dismayed by the Nixon administration’s decision. He said America was committed to the defense of Israel and “it is too late to reverse this situation.” He told guests at a luncheon in Tel Aviv marking the close of sessions here of the B’nai B’rith governing council that “you are not alone. World Jewry and American Jewry in particular is with you.” Dr. Wexler described the decision announced by Rogers as “a temporary decision” and said Israelis should not be overly excited by it. He asserted that “if the United States wants to have a foothold in this area (the Middle East) Israel must survive.”

(In New York, Jacques Torczyner, president of the Zionist Organization of America, today attacked the Nixon administration’s decision as tending “to deprive Israel now of the tools for self-defense against the constantly increasing buildup of the Soviet-Arab war machine.” Mr. Torczyner urged President Nixon “to re-appraise the situation” in “the sober light” of the Soviet SAM-3 missile deliveries to Egypt in recent weeks. As a result of yesterday’s decision, the ZOA leader declared, the Arabs will be “encouraged by this show of American lack of determination.”) (Minister without portfolio Shimon Peres, who as former Premier David Ben Gurion’s Deputy Minister of Defense was responsible for much of the equipment procurement of the Israeli defense forces, was quoted in Amsterdam today as declaring that the American decision not to sell jet planes to Israel at this time did not constitute a danger to Israel, and expressed the belief that one result would be greater unity among Israelis.)