Official circles here today said that reports of United States pressures on Israel in conjunction with a jet-sale agreement were “exaggerated.” They admitted, however, that Washington seems desirous of taking some “dovish” step to balance out a jet approval, as an aid to peace. Previous reports had alleged that the U.S. was insisting on an Israeli pledge not to attack the Ghor Valley and other significant areas in return for a jet-sale pact. The Israeli Embassy in Washington has declined comment on this alleged agreement. The Israeli sources added that Washington welcomes the seemingly growing support for jet sales on the part of the American public, emphasized by the pleas to President Nixon by 76 Senators and 217 Congressmen. Broad American backing is seen by observers as making a favorable jet decision easier to make.
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.