The Gaza incident has caused a setback to forces in the Administration that have been seeking a re-evaluation of American Near Eastern policy that –in view of emerging Arab security arrangements–would provide a guarantee of Israel’s territorial integrity and appropriate military assistance to redress the balance of power, it was learned here today.
Prior to Gaza, according to well-informed sources, a mild re-affirmation of the Tripartite Declaration of 1950 was pending. It was designed to satisfy Israel’s fear of growing isolation in the merging regional security pattern. The re-affirmation was almost announced two months ago, but it was held up in order not to jeopardize the Iraqi-Turkish pact negotiations. Now further postponement is definitely indicated, with the blame being placed on Israel for the Gaza incident.
The position taken by important elements in the Administration now is that the United Nations Mixed Armistice Commission ruling against Israel on the Gaza clash cancels any immediate plans to extend considerations to Israel that might have been pending.
In their view, Gaza demonstrated that Israel used existing military equipment “aggressively” and that Israel failed to respect the territorial integrity of the Egyptian Gaza strip. It was pointed out that some of the arms Israel used “aggressively” at Gaza may have been from the equipment sold Israel under export licenses approved by the State Department. Such arms are sold under a proviso that they be used only defensively.
The idea in circles now opposed to special security consideration for Israel is that such arrangements at this juncture would be impossible to explain to Egypt and the Arab states. They feel that measures Israel wants America to take would not at this time be in the interest of regional peace or security. They feel, too, it would jeopardize U.S. negotiations with Arab League States.
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