The greatest immediate threat of nuclear proliferation in the Near East is arising in Israel and future aid and loans, including the pending nuclear desalination project, may be linked with agreement by Israel to desist from development of atomic weaponry, high-level U. S. sources revealed today. The subject of Israel’s nuclear weapon potential will be closely observed during 1966, it was said, and measures sought to inhibit Israeli development along these lines.
State Department officials, meanwhile, said they had no comment not confirmation of reports attributed to American officials that Israel has entered into a secret contract to buy medium-range ballistic missiles from France. The Department sought to publicly dissociate itself from these reports which some quarters have charged were deliberately “leaked” to obscure the developing issue of recently revealed American arms supply arrangements with Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
The deals with Jordan and Saudi Arabia are beginning to draw heavy Congressional fire. Congressional sources believe that the State Department is subtly and secretly advancing an Israeli nuclear arms question as a timely move to confuse the basic issue expected to explode next week when Congress reconvenes. Members of Congress have charged that the Administration has embarked on a new pursuit of Arab friendship through excessive arms arrangements that jeopardize Israel, promote an arms race, and increase Near Eastern tensions.
Rep. Jacob H.Gilbert, New York Democrat, today called for immediate reconsideration of the Administration’s decision to send arms to Jordan and food to Egypt. In a letter to President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Congressman said the new decisions were “inimical to the interests of Israel and peace.” He pointed out that Egypt would buy Soviet arms with money saved on food.
According to Rep. Gilbert, “it certainly does not seem to be prudent to arm Israel’s enemies, escalate the arms race in the Near East, and to increase the chance of war in the area.”
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