560. Message From Prime Minister Ben Gurion to President Eisenhower1
Dear Mr. President: I have only this afternoon received your message2 which was delayed in transmission owing to a breakdown in communications between the Department of State and the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Your statement that a United Nations force is being dispatched to Egypt in accordance with pertinent resolutions of the General Assembly is welcomed by us. We have never planned to annex the Sinai Desert. In view of the United Nations Resolutions regarding the withdrawal of foreign troops from Egypt and the creation of an international force, we will, upon conclusion of satisfactory arrangements with the United Nations in connection with this international force entering the Suez Canal area, willingly withdraw our forces.
Although an important part of our aim has been achieved by the destruction, as a result of the Sinai operation, of Fedayeen gangs and of the bases from which they were planned and directed, we must repeat our urgent request to the United Nations to call upon Egypt, which has consistently maintained that it is in a state of war with Israel, to renounce this position, to abandon its policy of boycott and blockade, to cease the incursions into Israel territory of murder gangs and, in accordance with its obligations under the United Nations Charter to live at peace with member states, to enter into direct peace negotiations with Israel.
On behalf of my government I wish to express to you our gratification at your reference to the deep interest of the United States in Israel and its policy of support for our country. I know these words of friendship stem from the depths of your heart and I wish to assure you that you will always find Israel ready to make [Page 1096] its noble contribution3 at the side of the United States in its efforts to strengthen justice and peace in the world.4
With best wishes,
Sincerely yours,
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. Eban handed the text of this message to Hoover during their conversation on November 8; see supra.↩
- Document 550.↩
- In a letter dated February 5, 1957, First Secretary of the Israeli Embassy Yohanan Meroz informed Bergus that the words “noble contribution” should be corrected to read “humble contribution,” the error being evidently due to a garbled transmission. Meroz noted that the incorrect version had been published in the Department of State Bulletin. (Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/2–557)↩
- On November 9, President Eisenhower replied to Ben Gurion as follows: “I appreciate your message of yesterday informing me that you will withdraw your forces from Egypt. This decision will be warmly welcomed not only by the United States but by all of the nations which are striving to restore peace and security for all nations in the Middle East. It will contribute greatly to a situation in which a peaceful solution may be attained.” The text was transmitted for delivery to Tel Aviv on 11:20 a.m., November 9, in telegram 494. (Ibid., 674.84A.11–956) A copy of this message, with handwritten changes by Eisenhower, is in the Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩