Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1955, Volume XIV

83. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State¹

Tel Aviv,April 23, 1955—noon.

915. Embassy queried American section Foreign Ministry this morning re IG public position joint patrols reported Embtel 908² inquiring whether this was final position Israel Government. Foreign Ministry replied that this was position IG at the moment. “Of course joint patrols is subject which can be discussed at high level talks and thing we are pressing for at the moment is to get these started. Furthermore Egyptian Government is continuing to use Palestinian irregulars and other non-regular troups in the Gaza strip and this is a matter which should also be discussed at high level meeting.”

Embassy comment-. Embassy attributes development reported Embtel 908 and foregoing comments to following: Firstly,IDF basically opposed to joint patrols as matter of principle and this is opposition which could only be overcome by Foreign Ministry by gains on other fronts. Secondly,IG regards Egyptian statement on barricades as evasion of proposal which it will be recalled originated with Chief of Staff [garble] and IG concurrence joint patrol proposal at this juncture would greatly vitiate case for joint talks.

Conclusion reached is that door has not been closed to joint patrol proposal but that a good deal of effort by Burns and concessions by Egyptians on other points would be necessary to obtain IG cooperation.³

Lawson

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/4–2355. Confidential. Received at 11:23 a.m. Repeated to Cairo, Damascus, Beirut, Jerusalem, London, and Paris.
2. On April 22, the Embassy reported that the Israeli Government, in a public statement, had accepted three of General Burns’ four proposals designed to ease the border situation. The Israelis agreed to the erection of physical barriers, wished to negotiate a local commander’s agreement, hoped to have the frontiers policed by regular forces only, but rejected the suggestion of joint Israeli-Egyptian patrols. (Ibid., 674.84A/4–2255)
3. The Department informed the Embassy in Tel Aviv on April 27 that the previous day Department officials had spoken with representatives of the Israeli Embassy and urged Israel to accept General Burns’ joint patrol proposal. (Telegram 628 to Tel Aviv;ibid., 674.84A/4–2755)