Rabin Says U.S. Responded Favorably for Certain ‘ultra Modern Weapons Systems and Technology’

Premier Yitzhak Rabin informed the Cabinet yesterday that the United States has responded favorably to recent requests by Israel for certain “ultra modern weapons systems and technology.” It was learned at the same time that Rabin had made a personal appeal to President Ford for the arms last week. No details were made public as to the nature of the weapons he requested but political sources here said they are of a type badly needed by Israel.

Rabin told the Cabinet at its weekly session that all arms promised Israel by the U.S. were delivered and are being delivered on schedule. He expressed satisfaction with the state of U.S.-Israeli relations and noted that in the past year there has been “serious progress” in American legislation aimed against the Arab boycott and American companies participating in it.

“On the whole, one should be satisfied with the many achievements in the relations between the two countries,” Rabin told the Cabinet. He added praise for the contributions made by Israel’s envoy in Washington, Ambassador Simcha Dinitz, toward those relations.

Political observers here noted that Rabin’s remarks yesterday were not the first by the Premier that could be construed as an expression of support for President Ford in the American election campaign over his Democratic opponent, Jimmy Carter. Addressing the convention of the Rabbinical Council of America, the Orthodox rabbinical body, held here last summer Rabin stressed that relations between Israel and the U.S. were never as good as during the last four years. Those years included the last two of the Nixon Administration.

Similar remarks were made several weeks ago by Amos Eran, director general of the Prime Minister’s Office. Criticism was expressed later that Rabin was leaving little doubt as to which of the two American Presidential candidates he favored.

The Premier referred at the Cabinet meeting to the expressions of support for Israel by both candidates during their television debate on U.S. foreign policy last week. He said those expressions indicated to a large degree that “the American public, media, parties, Congress and the Administration show a deep understanding of Israel’s needs and goals.” President Anwar Sadat of Egypt offered similar praise of the Ford Administration’s foreign policy as executed by Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger in an interview with ABC-TV correspondent Barbara Walters last week.

TOON REASSURES ISRAEL

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador Malcolm Toon who was appointed to his post by Ford, told an audience in Tel Aviv Thursday that no matter which candidate is the winner in the American elections, U.S. policy toward Israel will remain the same as it is today. “We will remain firmly committed to the freedom and safety of this country,” Toon declared at the opening of the American Carnival, a bicentennial display of American products at the Shalom department store.