Office of the Historian

113. Message From Secretary of State Kissinger’s Executive Assistant (Eagleburger) to Secretary of State Kissinger)1

Washington, October 6, 1973.
Sir:

Eban just called to pass on the following points to you:

—Israel appreciates the Secretary’s decision to defer Security Council action.

—Israel will accept no ceasefire as long as Syrian/Egyptian troops are “over the line.”

—The Israelis believe “there are good prospects” of forcing the Egyptian and Syrian troops out of their territory within three days.

—Israel will never accept any solution which gives an advantage to an aggressor.

—The military situation is “not unsatisfactory.”2

—In sum, Israel desires time to recoup its position. At that time Israel will be prepared to accept “a plain ceasefire.”

[Page 338]

—If this line of approach is acceptable to the USG Eban is prepared to discuss with Ambassador Scali how we might orchestrate the Security Council issue. Eban went on to say that it might in fact be better to delay any Security Council action until Monday.3

Eban would like to talk with you this evening if you have a chance. He can be reached at the Hotel Plaza. Shalev has been instructed to call me to present the latest military appreciation. If he has called before you return I will attach it to this report.

LSE4
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 27 ARAB–ISR. Top Secret; Sensitive. A handwritten note reads: “Passed to Brent [Scowcroft] at Larry’s request.”↩
  2. At 6:25 p.m., Eban had telephoned Kissinger with a detailed report on the military situation, saying that the Syrian advance had been checked because of nightfall and that 60 Syrian tanks had been destroyed. The Israeli base described the position on the Egyptian front as “difficult” with more drastic losses. Kissinger asked about Israeli plans, to which Eban responded that Dayan had said it would take some days, but that they were confident that Israel would improve its position with time. Kissinger asked about going to the Security Council and Eban said he would get a judgment, but agreed that going before the General Assembly would be a problem. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Chronological File, Box 22)↩
  3. October 8.↩
  4. The original bears these typed initials.↩