A special subcommittee on the Middle East of the House of Representatives has recommended to Congress that mainly for economic reasons it scrutinize “any Israeli request” for arms and suggested delay in providing “some items.” The group also expressed its belief that “at some time in the near future the Egyptians may ask to buy military equipment from the United States to test American even-handedness in dealing with both sides in the Middle East dispute.”
These were among observations in a 24-page printed report released yesterday by the special group made up of 18 members of the House Armed Services Committee which visited Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt Feb. 5-17. It was headed by Rep. Melvin Price (D.I11.), who is also chairman of the full committee. The special group comprised 11 Democrats and seven Republicans, predominantly conservatives.
“The subcommittee can appreciate the desire of the Israeli government for a high level of military assistance in view of its experience in the October war,” the report said. “Israel will be dependent on the United States for arms support this year and for some years to come. The subcommittee recognizes that one of the persuasive points in behalf of aid to Israel, as outlined eloquently by Prime Minister Rabin, is that a strong Israel will convince Arab nations that a war option is not available, that is, that they must negotiate to attain the end they seek because defeating Israel through war is not a realistic expectation.”
The report continued: “Having said that, however, the subcommittee would recommend to the full committee and to the Congress that in view of the present strength of the Israeli forces, in view of the effect on the Israeli economy and in view of the limitations on the United States at a time of unprecedented, large-scale budget deficits, any Israeli request be scrutinized carefully and any judgment be made on an item-by-item basis. If the provision of some items can be delayed, it would be economically beneficial to both nations in a year when both face severe budgetary constraints.”
SUGGESTS AID TO EGYPT
Among its comments on Egypt, the subcommittee said that “in line with the aid the United States is providing to help open the Suez Canal, the subcommittee believes the U.S. might make a further contribution towards the search for peace by considering economic and technical aid in the rebuilding of the devastated cities in the Suez area that were destroyed during the long period of conflict between Israel and Egypt.”
The Price report also pointed out that while the Israel Defense Forces have “traditionally lived with an imbalance of 3-1 in weapons and personnel in its wars with the Arab armies,” the Israelis “see special problems in the future, however, because the wealth of the Arab nations allows them to acquire a quantity of weapons of the highest quality which could eventually provide a far greater advantage than the 3-1 ratio of the past.”
“The Israelis are concerned,” the report said, “about Russian influence in the Middle East and consider the estrangement between Egypt and Moscow as a charade designed to impress U.S. public opinion.”
The report added that “although the Israelis were in direct conflict with Syria and Egypt in the October war, eight other Arab nations sent aid or expeditionary forces to the conflict. The Israelis, therefore, see themselves as having to be prepared to face the combined forces of the Arab world. The Israelis claim that the Arab nations have purchased $15.5 billion in military procurements since the October war.”
The Price subcommittee said that Israeli Defense Forces have “more than made up their losses” in the Yom Kippur War while “the Arab forces on the borders of Israel have, as a whole, increased their strength but they have not improved their posture to the extent of the IDF.”
Because of their limited manpower, the report noted, the Israelis “are convinced they need a greater inventory of aircraft and other systems and a backlog of trained pilots” and “are particularly anxious to receive weapons systems which would reduce casualties in a future war such as standoff missiles; guided bombers and remotely piloted vehicles.”
ATTEMPT TO AID KISSINGER’S DIPLOMACY
The new foreign aid budget for fiscal 1976 which begins July 1 is expected to be unveiled to Congress after Kissinger returns from his present Middle East trip. Israel is understood to have asked for $1.5 billion in military assistance for the new year.
Noting that neither the Price nor the previous special House committee led by Samuel S. Stratton (D.NY) had visited Syria and Jordan, the Price group said that visits to those two countries and “to the Palestinians of the West Bank would contribute to the (Price) Committee’s knowledge of alternatives in this important area.” The committee led by Stratton visited Egypt and Israel in November 1973.
Analysts examining the Price Committee report saw in it an attempt at this particular, time to assist Kissinger’s diplomacy to help move Egypt towards an agreement with Israel by indicating a favorable outlook in Congress towards the Cairo government. (See additional Price Committee story this page.)
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
