Press reports that the U.S. was considering setting up a naval or air base in Israel were denied yesterday by White House Press Secretary Jody Powell. “There is no truth to that report,” he said. “We are not considering asking for any naval base or any other kind of military base in Israel.” Earlier in the day the State Department also rejected the reports as “sheer speculation.”
Meanwhile, President Carter would prefer to see a Middle East settlement negotiated “directly and bilaterally” between the Arab countries and Israel with “minimal involvement” by the United States. Carter expressed this view in a letter to Rep. Benjamin Rosenthal (D.NY) which was released here today.
“Nothing would please me more than to see this procedure lead to success with minimal involvement by the U.S.,” the President wrote. “This may be the last opportunity for many years to bring the parties together multilaterally and with our influence.” According to Carter, “If any Arab countries are willing to negotiate directly and bilaterally with Israel, I don’t know of it.” He added: “Obviously, any agreement reached will have to be acceptable to all nations involved.”
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