684A.85/2–1253: Telegram
No. 566
The Consul at Jerusalem (Tyler) to the Department of State1
priority
110. Comment my telegram 102, February 8. In recriminations as to who right or wrong on border issues it vitally important Israel and Arab states not lose sight of total picture. Responsible political and other leaders of public opinion both sides must be made to understand grave dangers world situation so they earnestly strive for peace and cease border bickerings, charges and counter-charges which becloud real issue although local issues very real to them.
Without going into merits either side one fact clear: Israel is in possession of much Arab land and presence of refugees is constant aggravation and reminder. Israel argument Arab military defiance 1947 partition resolution was cause does not diminish fact that nearly one million refugees are destitute. In present state affairs it would be political if not actual suicide for Arab leaders to talk sweet reasonableness to Israel. And yet I have met no responsible Arab who did not concede Israel here to stay. They may not always continue to think so and many statements and impossible demands now being made for home consumption are dangerous because it becomes unpatriotic to put forward more moderate claims (a Soviet technique).
Above all Israel must be made to see Arab point of view and realize it is often her own provocative acts and justification of them that so inflames Arab populations, that Arab leaders are forced in self protection to make such statements. Israel must grow up and not, like a little boy, yell “you’re another” at every Arab act or sword-rattling pronouncement. She must return to the philosophy of Jacob who told his sons going into Egypt “take a little honey”. Arab pride has been profoundly hurt by loss of war and as winner Israel must be magnanimous and conciliatory. She often does just opposite in overt actions, public statements, and unless she stops she will never have peace and will in long run fail to convince even [Page 1131] her friends she wants peace. She must exercise patience. When she rates a gesture of goodwill such as unfreezing some Arab funds she should understand she cannot expect immediate and enthusiastic response from those whose funds they are in first place. She waited 2000 years for her state and should see wisdom of waiting patiently and accepting a few hard words for a few more to make friends with her neighbors. We should use what patient and persuasive powers we have to convince Israel and that large group of American Jews who have influence in Israel of importance this attitude.
Some of Israel’s own leaders recognize her unfortunate inability to see any point of view other than her own and as Reuven Shiloah stated “her insistence on always being right is a national fault”. But World War III can start here and Israel’s very existence may depend on a change in her tactics.
If Israel’s present state of mind described in Tel Aviv telegrams requires repetition of guarantees we determined to support her economically and prevent forcible territorial changes, these should be given. It realized it may not be too easy for Israel to show conciliation not only for internal reasons but because such action her part may be taken by Arab states as sign of weakness and result in stiffer attitude. In this Israel must trust our assurances, of which the Arabs are aware. She should also be reminded that while our official policy is to support them we are a democracy and publication of her brutal aggressions across frontiers becoming known will lessen sympathy for her and make it difficult for Congress to appropriate the needed funds.
- Repeated to Amman, Cairo, Beirut, Damascus, London, Paris, and Rome; sent by pouch to Baghdad, Ankara, Jidda, and Tel Aviv.↩