Nixon Apparently Against Authorizing Israel to Buy More Aircraft at This Time

President Nixon has apparently decided against authorizing Israel at this time to purchase additional military aircraft here. His decision, to be announced later this week, will not, according to Administration sources, shut the door on future supply of aircraft to Israel in the event that the Soviet Union resumes large-scale rearmament of the Arab states or a real military threat arises to Israel’s present air superiority. Mr. Nixon, presumably, will announce this country’s continued concern for the security of Israel and reaffirm its commitment to aid Israel to maintain the Middle East balance of power.

His refusal to comply with Prime Minister Golda Meir’s request for the right to buy more Phantom supersonic jet fighter-bombers and the Sky hawk jet workhorses, it was said, will be based on the premise that Israel now enjoys a marked military superiority and will for the immediate future, making the supply of additional planes at this time unnecessary. Sources in the State Department, which has been opposing a decision to provide the planes to Israel, said that by withholding the Phantoms, Mr. Nixon had induced the Soviet Union to hold back on providing Egypt with the import new MIG-23 fighter-bomber.

One Administration source said that Mr. Nixon would apply to Israel the policy of “benign neglect” recommended to him for dealing with the racial question in the United States. One aspect of this policy, presumably, would be to take Israel-American relations out of the headlines and provide time for a softening of Arab resentments against the United States. Israel will continue to receive the balance of the 50 Phantoms bought here under authorization by President Johnson, with delivery taking until the end of 1970. Administration sources said there would probably be a slow buildup of the American Phantom inventory to permit immediate delivery of the aircraft to Israel should the need arise.