113. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State1
980. Re Embtel 978.2Ben Gurion’s request to me to come to his Jerusalem residence this afternoon was for purposes, first and most important, of soliciting US influence to delay General Assembly discussion and second, to urge our consideration of UN commission to make on-the-spot study of Gaza problem.
He said Sharm el-Sheikh presented no serious difficulties for eventual solution in view of “agreement in principle” that Tiran Straits were international waterway. Nor was Gaza insoluble problem if only time could be provided to enable “three or four sensible people” to sit down and work out problem.
“I am convinced we are on very brink of settlement,” he said, “and it would be great tragedy if it eluded us just for lack of little time.”
“If UNGA meets on this problem tomorrow, sanctions will be voted against Israel. If they are proposed, they probably will be approved no matter what US decides to do because that is mood of Arabs, Afro-Asians and Soviet bloc. I do not think US people will be very happy. Surely many of them will ask why we are penalized while Russia, Government of Hungary, India and Nasser have consistently ignored resolutions of General Assembly or Security Council.”
Ben Gurion intimated strongly his people would choose to endure sanctions if only alternative was to capitulate to proposals which neither gave them security nor removed restrictions on their commerce.
[Page 204]“But why,” he asked, “does it have to be done tomorrow? If Israel,” the criminal’ is to be punished in absence of solution, why isn’t it as satisfactory to punish us six weeks hence, first attempting to find peaceful solution?
“I know some say we were told to withdraw three months ago, and we haven’t yet complied, but what is few more weeks? Egypt has refused to comply for more than 6 years and no one has suggested sanctions against her.”
Rest of our conversation was largely familiar recital his views on essentials of Sharm el-Sheikh and Gaza problems.
Re Sharm el-Sheikh: Definition by President and Secretary of Straits as international waterway goes almost but not all the way towards meeting GOI’s problem. To assume that merely because US, perhaps British and French and even Scandinavian, shipping is permitted free passage Israel will have it as well is to overlook fact that these maritime powers used Suez without interference. But freedom they enjoyed in no way established Israel’s right to same privilege.
Re Gaza, Ben Gurion said Israel thought strip posed three major questions—(1) Israel’s security, (2) welfare of permanent inhabitants, 2/3 of whom are now charity cases, and (3) refugees. “None of these elements of Gaza question present really serious problems if approached by reasonable commission,” he said, “Israel was confident it can greatly improve lot of permanent inhabitants, perhaps even making them self-sufficient by tying their lands into Israel’s irrigation system, providing technical assistance and marketing their crops.” Israel was prepared to make substantial contribution to refugee problem as well including, as he has stated before, some resettlement in Israel.
Comment: Ben Gurion spoke in conciliatory and quite unemotional tones, speaking with firm confidence several times of his conviction that time and “on the ground” study by a UN group would produce solution. He is certain decision is now in US hands, and he is not without hope we will undertake to delay UN debate few more days to consider alternatives. As I left aide said they felt Secretary would make his decision today.
Ben Gurion moved back to Jerusalem over week end and appears considerably improved in health.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/2–1857. Confidential; Niact. Received at 7:36 p.m.; the source text does not indicate the time of transmission.↩
- Document 111.↩