684A.86/4–1754: Telegram
No. 799
The Consul at Jerusalem (Tyler) to the Department of State1
priority
160. Department telegram 90 to Jerusalem.2 Israel has made much of Jordan refusal to meet under Article 12 and might be made to see some inconsistency in her own refusal to return and cooperate with MAC if formally requested to do so by Secretary General UN. Also there are some indications Israel may wish to be forced take this action (Contel 152)3 and possibly it might strengthen Sharett’s position. If Israel does return easy to call meeting with Bennike as chairman to discuss improvements border machinery. This would be victory for Jordan and unfortunate in view Jordan obstinacy to honor her signature on Article 12, but Arab ability to commit suicide over some fancied point of honor one of realities of situation. However, Israel not blameless in refusing to honor UN resolutions.
Present situation more serious, but not essentially dissimilar to that existing 1953. Israel requested “high level” talks with Jordan in January 1953 (Contels 90 and 96 January 29 and February 5, 1953)4 and as a far too frequent indication of her manner of bringing the parties together, Israel immediately undertook brutal raids on Falama and Rantis and later occupied Arab college in Government house grounds. Naturally Jordan could not “meet” under these circumstances. High level talks finally took place June 29 (Contel 1, July 1, 1953).5 No mention then made of Article 12 and to suggest similar talks now to Jordan would probably fail as only subterfuge, still suggestion might be made to Jordan as a compromise between their refusal to meet under Article 12 and Israel insistence MAC incompetent to correct situation.
Also in January 1953 Israel broke off local commanders meetings and only special request of Secretary Dulles to Ben Gurion caused Israel to reinstate them. To save face Israel pretended certain new regulations were agreed upon (Contel 166, May 29, 1953).3
ConGen has always maintained MAC an excellent institution given sincerity both parties, and local commanders meetings best means yet devised to curb infiltration. But Israel has found weak [Page 1519] and false reasons for denouncing them in past and refusing to agree to improvement in rules of procedure (Contels 84, January 21 and 165, May 29, 1953).5 I feel strongly that we should confront Israel with known facts of her statements calling for easing of border tension as contrasted with her hostile acts of reprisal raids and sabotaging local commanders agreements and rules of MAC procedure which is best method of “nibbling” at border control. Furthermore, Israel makes frequent claims she “knows how to treat Arabs” and therefore, well aware to call for meeting under Article 12 would only irritate Jordan and while giving Israel propaganda advantage it was not in interest of peace or easing border tension. There is also enormous difference between individual acts of infiltrators and group reprisals officially undertaken or condoned by governments. Jordan does punish known infiltrators; Israel never punishes those guilty of reprisal raids. ConGen and UNTSO here in agreement Jordan making sincere effort curb infiltration (Consulate’s despatch 160, February 22, 1954 and Amman telegram 394, April 1, 1954).5 Nor in three years I have been here have I ever had any reasons to suspect infiltration sponsored by Jordan Government. UN states lack of pattern infiltration points to individual or small gang activity. It naturally serves Israel’s purpose to claim Jordan Government behind it and Israel must make such claim in order to justify her official reprisal raids.
Entrance Russia into Middle East politics makes Israel’s game extremely dangerous and Israel must be made to see danger not only to her own existence but to world and return to MAC and make sincere efforts at working level to ease border tension. Israel once claimed she would be satisfied with partition. Now she has more territory than partition gave her but she does not seem to be satisfied with it leading to possible conclusion that she wants peace but only on her own terms. The patience that caused her to wait 2000 years for Israel to exist must be used if she wants peace. There is no easy way and Israel must begin by being fair to the Arabs within her own borders as well as with those just outside. Otherwise confidence will never be established and peace will never come. To reopen war in hopes of forcing peace seems suicidal. Even if Israel won now forty million Arabs would remember and in end Israel would cease to exist. Sentimental appreciation of Israel’s plight should not allow us to overlook determination this people who killed their own in blowing up King David Hotel and sunk the Patriau in Haifa harbor in 1940 resulting in the drowning of over 250 Jews. It may be asked if qualities which led to Maccabeeian [Page 1520] and Bar Kochba revolts two thousand and more years ago and finished in destruction of Israel still exist in Jews today. . . .
Above reflections not anti-Israel but from belief Israelis not only key to peace in area but by patience and justice a possible leader of a democratic Middle East. If Israel from her sense of chosen destiny, arrogance and terrible subjectivity (Con despatch 135 January 16, 1954)6 cannot be made to realize the consequences of her acts she may perish and not impossibly the world with her. She must be patient and know that we will support her if she does and that because we disapprove certain of her acts does not mean we are deserting her. But there is a limit.
ConGen fully supports specific recommendations Commander Hutchison to improve border machinery (Con despatch 163 February 26, 1954).6