263. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Israeli Ambassador (Dinitz)1
K: We have just been told by the Soviets; I’m not saying this is true; but I want to bring you up to date—that your forces are still continuing to attack.2
D: I have just talked to Israel about 5 mins. ago and they told me all is quiet and we cancelled the blackout in Israel today.
K: I want to inform you of our strategy at the UN. If the meeting is called we will take the following position: 1) We will support the strongest call for an observance of the ceasefire; 2) we will totally oppose introduction of American and Soviet forces (unless you are for it).3
[Page 729]D: No. No. No.
K: 3) We will strongly favor strengthening of UN observers by bringing people in like the Scandinavians and elsewhere. 4) On the question of return to the original line we strongly support the principle but have no thoughts on how to apply it. Scali will be instructed to delay and confuse it. O.K.?
D: Fine. Do you have any idea if anyone is going to propose a resolution.
K: No. I have no word. I have seen that the Egyptians and Syrians are calling a meeting. I am seeing Dobrynin at 4:00 on another matter and I will tell them not to propose it because we will oppose it. Give us as much assurance as you can that you are not taking any military action.
D: I called 5 minutes ago. I will tell the Prime Minister about the strategy and repeat the concern that the Russians expressed to you.
K: Thank you.
D: Thank you.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Chronological File, Box 23. No classification marking.↩
- At 3:35 p.m., Dobrynin telephoned Kissinger and passed on a message received from Gromyko stating that Moscow had just received very reliable information from the leadership of Egypt and from its own sources that Israeli military actions were continuing. Therefore, the information given by Israel to the White House was false. Gromyko instructed Dobrynin to immediately inform Kissinger and the President of the false information. (Ibid.)↩
- In his memoirs, Kissinger wrote: “We were determined to resist by force if necessary the introduction of Soviet troops into the Middle East regardless of the pretext under which they arrived. When Dobrynin called on me shortly after 4:00 p.m., I told him that we would veto any UN resolution calling for the sending of troops by permanent members of the Security Council—both a delicate way of phrasing the issue and a face-saving formula for the Soviets to back down.” He noted that Dobrynin, who was without new instructions, spoke in a most conciliatory fashion and suggested not bothering with a new formal resolution, but having the President of the Security Council express a “consensus” favoring an appeal for another cease-fire. Kissinger said he agreed “with some relief, that this was a good way to defuse the crisis.” (Years of Upheaval, p. 580) According to Kissinger’s Record of Schedule, he met with Dobrynin in the White House at 4:12 p.m. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–76) No other record of this meeting has been found.↩