The Cabinet was reportedly briefed tonight by Premier Golda Meir on recent developments in US-Israeli relations in the aftermath of Secretary of State Rogers speech to the UN General Assembly on Oct. 4 and his subsequent meeting with Foreign Minister Abba Eban Eban will meet with Rogers again on Thursday. According to sources here he is expected to ask the US again to revoke what in Israel’s opinion amounts to a virtual embargo on the delivery of more Phantom jets to Israel. The withholding of Phantoms at the present time is viewed by Israel as constituting blatant political pressure on a friendly nation and encouragment to Egypt to raise its demands.
Israeli circles believe in fact that the real motive behind Egypt’s proposals for an interim agreement on the Suez Canal is to drive a wedge between Israel and the US. They noted that similar tactics were employed by Egypt before when the question of an over-all settlement came up it was learned that this point has been made repeatedly by Israeli representatives in New York and Washington and in the talk last week between Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin and Assistant Secretary of State Joseph Sisco. Premier Meir, who is acting Foreign Minister in Eban’s absence, reportedly told the Cabinet that the Egyptian tactics have shown signs of succeeding. She reportedly cited the differences between the US position as enunciated last March and as stated by Rogers last week as proof of an erosion in the American stand. Mrs. Meir is expected to make a major policy statement when the Knesset reconvenes for its fall session on Oct. 25. Meanwhile, observers here said that Israel will undertake a diplomatic and informational offensive to convince the US that Rogers’ speech impedes Mideast peace.
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.
