Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir sent a “Dear Ron” farewell message to outgoing President Ronald Reagan over the weekend, describing him as “one of the greatest friends” Israel has ever had.
Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin sent similar cables to two departing members of the Reagan administration, Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci and Secretary of State George Shultz.
The eight-year Reagan administration officially terminated at noon Friday, Eastern Standard Time, when President George Bush was sworn into office.
Shamir’s cable to Reagan began:
“Dear Ron,
“I am most grateful to you for your warm words of congratulation to me and my colleagues on the formation of our new government of national unity. This government faces the formidable challenge of external dangers, of economic hardship and the ongoing search for peace with our neighbors, for peace and coexistence with the Palestinian Arabs who live under our rule.
“We shall look for solutions with utmost vigor and pray that we shall be successful.”
The prime minister extolled Reagan’s “outstanding leadership of the United States of America and the free world.”
“The people of Israel will be eternally grateful for your profound understanding of this small nation’s history, its travails and triumphs,” he said.
He observed that “the relationship between our two countries has never been better than in the period of your leadership of the United States.
“It is no wonder, therefore, that the memorandum of agreement we signed on Israel’s 40th anniversary is already known and spoken of as the Reagan agreement,” Shamir said.
MESSAGES TO CARLUCCI, SHULTZ
Noting that “it was possible occasionally to differ without impairing the basic friendship,” Shamir reminded Reagan that Israel is “the country with the best voting record at the United Nations at the side of the United States.”
The prime minister wound up his message with an invitation to Reagan and his wife, Nancy, to visit Israel “at any early date.”
Rabin began his letter to Carlucci, his American counterpart, by praising the American-Israeli defense relationship during the 14 months Carlucci held the office.
“It is a great pleasure for me to state today that our expectations were fulfilled. Indeed, under your leadership, the defense relations and cooperation between the Department of Defense and the Ministry of Defense and between the U.S. forces and the Israel Defense Force have reached a depth unprecedented in the history of our relations,” Rabin said.
“On behalf of the government of Israel and myself, please accept our gratitude and esteem for your personal contribution to these achievements.”
Rabin told Carlucci, “You will always be a welcome guest in Israel.”
To Shultz, Rabin wrote: “I sincerely hope that I express the unanimous feeling of all the people in Israel, and especially of those involved in the defense of Israel, in extending to you our thanks for your personal share in the strengthening of Israel’s security.
“We shall not forget the fact that you initiated the U.S.-Israeli strategic cooperation five years ago, and continuously encouraged its progress.
“Your steadfast determination to maintain Israel’s security and your immense efforts to promote peace in our region will not be forgotten.”
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