Rogers: No Jets Now to Israel but U.S. Will Give Israel $100 Million in Economic Aid

Secretary of State William P. Rogers today formally announced that the United States has rejected Israel’s request for additional aircraft but that the U.S. will “make renewed efforts in diplomatic channels” to “engage the other major suppliers to the Middle East in early arms limitation talks.” Prior to the news conference at which Mr. Rogers spelled out this country’s policy, he told Congressional leaders that the Nixon administration will provide $100 million in economic aid as “aid of a kind Israel needs to bolster its economic and military stance.” This economic aid, he said, will come from military funds. Mr. Rogers’ noon press conference had been impatiently awaited by Israel since President Nixon declared on January 30 that he would announce within 30 days the administration’s decision whether or not to authorize Israel to purchase additional Phantom and Sky hawk jets it had requested. Mr. Nixon blunted Mr. Rogers’ announcement by hinting Saturday that Israel would not, at this time, get the jets.

(In Jerusalem Foreign Minister Abba Eban made public Israel’s official reply to Mr. Rogers. It strongly urged the United States to make an urgent reappraisal of the existing and anticipated balance of forces in the Middle East and declared that “the absence of a positive response by the United States at this stage has aroused our disappointment and concern.”)

In his prepared statement, Mr. Rogers stated that “In our judgment, Israel’s air capacity is sufficient to meet its needs for the time being. Consequently, the President has decided to hold in abeyance for now a decision with respect to Israel’s request for additional aircraft.” Mr. Rogers advanced four proposals aimed, he said, at reducing hostilities “and thus enhance the prospects for peace” in the Middle East. The four proposals, which Mr. Rogers asserted the U.S. will make with renewed efforts, were to “encourage both sides to adhere fully to the UN cease-fire resolutions; call upon the parties to the conflict to reappraise positions which have become roadblocks to peace; urge all concerned to support proposals which would help Ambassador Jarring launch a process of negotiations among the parties under his auspices; and engage the other major suppliers to the Middle East in early arms limitation talks.”

U.S. POLICY ON JETS IS ‘INTERIM DECISION’: MIDEAST MILITARY BALANCE WILL BE WATCHED

Referring to the proposed economic aid, Mr. Rogers said the United States will respond “affirmatively” to certain of Israel’s short term financial requests “while studying further its longer range needs.” He said there will be an expanded PL-480 program for purchase of surplus food, primarily feed grains and wheat “under favorable credit arrangements.” Mr. Rogers added “We will also extend credit to help cover the balance due on past military contracts.” Focusing on the Soviet Union’s supply of SAM-3 missiles and additional Soviet personnel to Egypt. Mr. Rogers declared: “The situation bears and will receive close and careful scrutiny by us as well as continuous review and evaluation.” Mr. Rogers declared that “if steps are taken which might upset the current balance or if in our judgment political developments warrant, the President will not hesitate to reconsider this matter.” The Secretary of State stressed that “restraint will be required on the part of other major suppliers to the Middle East. No nation can pursue a policy of seeking unilateral advantage in the area if peace is to be achieved.” He reiterated the statement made by President Nixon at his press conference Saturday, that the United States decision on aircraft to Israel was an “interim decision.”

Continuing, Mr. Rogers said that the United States will continue to keep close watch on the military balance in the Mideast. “The United States will be in a position to provide additional as well as replacement aircraft promptly if the situation requires it,” he affirmed. “To this end, the United States will remain in close consultation with those concerned.” Mr. Rogers told the news conference that the decisions which the administration has taken regarding Israel’s requests for additional planes and its warning that it will maintain a close watch on the situation “are taken with the strong conviction that ultimate security for all concerned lies in peace. They are taken in the belief that the current trend of events must be reversed if the situation is to be stabilized and if progress toward peace is to begin.” In replies to questions by newsmen. Mr. Rogers stated that the decision on the jets “was made with the same care the U.S. would appraise its own security.” He told newsmen that the agreement to sell Libya eight F-5 low-altitude planes was made a year ago, prior to the change in that country’s government and would now be reconsidered. Replying to Israel’s comment that it would channel future military aid requests secretly to avoid additional embarrassment in case of turndowns, Mr. Rogers said “Secrecy is not a very productive policy to follow in our system of government.” This remark drew the only laughter at the press conference.