501.BB Palestine/3–1049: Telegram
The Special Representative of the United States in Israel (McDonald) to the Secretary of State
niact
urgent
190.1 ReDeptel 140, March 8 (reference Embtel Baghdad 95, March 8,2 repeated Tel Aviv 2).
Inquired of Foreign Office as directed noon March 9. At noon today received verbal reply from Eytan who stated that Prime Minister had instructed him inform as follows:
- 1.
- While government very appreciative of US efforts facilitate armistice and peace US going “a bit too far” in asking information on how Israel disposes its troops within area of Israel.
- 2.
- Israel perfectly entitled dispose its troops as it deems necessary for own security and has a perfect sense of its obligations and sense responsibility and reality of present situation.
- 3.
- Israel does not consider itself bound to account to anyone re deployment of troops within Israel.
Eytan remarked privately that Prime Minister much upset over inquiry with its implicit questioning of motives.
Facts of situation, as reported mission by MA liaison, are:
- 1.
- Past six weeks Iraqis and Palestine Arabs from triangle been raiding nightly farms in Israel coastal strip and area south of Ara-Lajun [Page 816] line. Raiders apparently after cattle, food, and prisoners. Some few farmers killed.
[Here follow paragraphs numbered 2 to 8 giving details of the raids and of Israeli action to prevent the raiders from crossing Israeli lines and containing the statement that “PGI reportedly has no intentions launching offensive against Iraqis but will firmly resist and punish raiders” and comment by Mr. McDonald that “while Israelis will probably not [be] provoked into formal action it is always possible that punitive action or hot pursuit might carry over into Iraqis lines if raids continued.”]
Sent Department 190, repeated Baghdad 1.