The proposed sale by the Ford Administration of more than $600 million in sophisticated weapons to Saudi Arabia was criticized as far in excess of Saudi Arabia’s defensive needs by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in a telegram to President Ford.
In the telegram, Rabbi Alexander Schindler, Conference chairman, indicated the “collective and profound concern” of the Conference’s 32 member organizations over the proposed sale, adding that “the extent and type of weaponry” proposed for Saudi Arabia “threaten seriously to upset the delicate arms balance in the Middle East.”
He noted that “the huge size and nature of the proposed arms sales pose the gravest peril to the security of Israel which to linked so closely to our country’s strategic interests.” Schindler also said the President’s “reconsideration,” of the arms sales was “urgently requested.” The proposed sale, disclosed in the Administration’s required letter of notification to Congress, calls for transfer to Saudi Arabia of 850 Sidewinder missiles. 600 Maverick TV-guided air-to-ground missiles. and 1.000 TOW anti-tank missiles. The cost of the 850 Sidewinders was put at $75 million.
Other letters to Congress indicated that Israel is to be sold $169 million worth of bombs, missiles and helicopters. Altogether, a total of $6 billion in arms sales were listed by the Administration for Congressional action within 30 days. Congress will adjourn Oct. 2 for the Presidential election recess. Pakistan, Turkey and Iran are listed as other purchasers, with Iran’s total of almost $4.5 billion, mostly for aircraft, leading the list.
OTHERS DENOUNCE THE SALE
The proposed sale to Saudi Arabia came under fire also from Rep. Benjamin Rosenthal, (D NY) who said the proposed transaction “further accelerates Saudi Arabia’s emergence as the arsenal of the Arab world and is another step toward making it a confrontation state with Israel.” Congressional sources said Rosenthal plans to introduce resolutions disapproving the sale of the three types of missiles to Saudi Arabia.
The Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on foreign aid, headed by Hubert Humphrey (D Minn), and its House counterpart, headed by Rep. Dante Fascell (D Fla), are to hold hearings on the proposed arms sales in about 10 days. Rosenthal has the support of Fascell and other Representatives in his opposition to the weapons sales to Saudi Arabia.
The Administration’s arms package for Saudi Arabia also includes a proposed outlay of $215 million for housing at Tebuk, near the Saudi- Jordanian border, for the Saudi Arabian king’s modern national guard, according to official U.S. sources. Other proposed construction funding is for a headquarters at Riyadh for $13 million and for a naval training center at Jubayl near the Persian Gulf oil fields.
The proposed arms sales to Saudi Arabia were denounced also by Robert Shor, commander of the Jewish War Veterans, who called them “excessive and ill-conceived,” which “go way beyond Saudi Arabia’s legitimate defense needs.” He said the sale of the Sidewinder missiles was “particularly questionable,” pointing out that Saudi Arabia has only 95 operational fighter planes and not enough trained pilots to fly even that number.
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