196. Note From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to Secretary of State Kissinger1
I met with Dinitz at 12:45 and passed on the message regarding ceasefire linked to Resolution 242.2 He said he would pass it immediately to the Prime Minister and get back to us as quickly as possible.
Dinitz said that the Prime Minister had asked him to express to the President and to you her appreciation and enthusiasm, and that of Israel, for what the United States is doing.3 Mrs. Meir says that she is sure the President is mindful of the political and strategic implications of the U.S. action but she is not sure that he fully appreciates how much the U.S. actions have done for the morale of the fighting forces in Israel.
Regarding the military situation, Dinitz said that the force west of the Canal was still operating and that “several scores” of tanks were in the force. He says there is a heavy tank battle on the east bank of the Canal opposite the Israeli strike force on the west bank. The Israelis hope to clear this area near Deversoir and are planning to put a pontoon bridge across the Canal at that point.
The Syrian front is relatively quiet although they anticipate that the Iraqis are preparing to mount an attack.
Dinitz had several questions regarding resupply. He requested to know what the delivery policy on F4’s over the next few days would be and also when and how many A4’s we were planning to deliver. He reiterated an urgent need for bridging material, especially in light of [Page 573] the battle report which he had just presented. He reminded that they had requested 50 helicopters, but said they would take any number they could get in a hurry. He expressed appreciation for the TOW missiles being provided, but asked if there were any more available anywhere, either off the production line or perhaps going to the FRG (in this case, he said that Golda would ask Willy Brandt to acquiesce in their diversion.) He said that Israel is attempting to destroy Egyptian armored forces and that the TOW is urgently needed for that.
Latest cumulative losses: 27 F–4, 48 A–4, 11 Mirage, 6 Super-Mystere, 2 helicopters.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 136, Country Files, Middle East, Dinitz, June 4–October 31, 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information.↩
- During their conversation, Scowcroft informed Dinitz that the Soviet Union had sent a message (Document 194) asking the United States what its attitude would be toward a proposed resolution linking a cease-fire to Resolution 242. He told Dinitz that the U.S. response was that the United States was not opposed in principle, but would have to see the specific language. Dinitz asked if this meant a standstill and Scowcroft replied that it did, which is why the U.S. response had been “very vague.” He noted that the United States would like Israel’s views on this and Dinitz said that he would have to cable home. (Memorandum of conversation, October 17; National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL ISR–US)↩
- In telegram 826 from Tel Aviv, October 17, Keating reported on his conversation with Meir, during which she had expressed “Israel’s deep gratitude” for U.S. support. She said that Israel well recognized the difficult issues facing the President when he decided to come to Israel’s aid, and noted that the entire free world should realize that an important byproduct of this would be to preclude Soviet domination of the Middle East. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 610, Country Files, Middle East, Israel, Vol. 12, March–October 1973)↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩