501.MA Palestine/8–949: Telegram
The Chargé in Israel (Ford) to the Secretary of State
607. Prior his departure yesterday for US, Ambassador read Jerusalem’s telegram 505, August 3,1 to Department and was of opinion there no grounds Burdett’s belief Knesset debate and attendant press campaign “conducted in large part for foreign consumption in effort create impression Israeli offer repatriate number refugees of tremendous importance and made by government in spite fierce internal opposition”.
New subject: Ambassador also read Jerusalem’s telegram 500, August 2, to Department and felt whole tone telegram was highly tendentious and that concluding suggestion to shift emphasis “to rectification of temporary armistice lines to restore to Arabs area given them by GA Resolution November 29 or equivalent fertile lands to use in intensive resettlement Arab refugees outside Israel” would gravely endanger all hope progress toward peaceful agreement, and that Israel would certinly resist, if necessary by arms, any change armistice lines.
Comment: I agree both above opinions. There is no doubt about genuineness both internal opposition and resentment Israeli Government’s recent offer repatriate Arab refugees, and while offer undoubtedly made as result foreign and especially US representations, its impact on local public opinion was nonetheless far-reaching and its jolt to government was softened only by ruse, whether intentional or not, of Prime Minister himself (Embassy’s A–211, August 5).2 As regards any contemplated change in present armistice lines, realities of situation are that Jews even now have so far consolidated their position in majority areas presently held, either through actual or fully planned settlements, that any action initiated now which would result dislodging them could easily prove disastrous. End comment.
Sent Department, repeated Baghdad 24, Beirut 36, Damascus 32, London 84, Amman 29, Cairo 30, Jidda 9, Lausanne; Tehran pass Jerusalem 67.
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed; it reported that the Prime Minister, in reviewing his Government’s position on the return of Arab refugees before the Knesset on August 2, created an uproar on raising a question as to when the opposition had warned the people of the danger of war with the Arabs and of the need to prepare their defense. Mr. Ben-Gurion claimed for his Government “the sole responsibility” for Israeli defense preparations. There was an outcry by the opposition in the Knesset and for 2 days the opposition press devoted all of its energy to refuting the Prime Minister’s allegations, deflecting them from the issue of the repatriation of the Arabs (867N.48/8–549).↩