Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXV, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

273. Backchannel Message From the Egyptian Presidential Adviser for National Security Affairs (Ismail) to Secretary of State Kissinger¹

Washington, October 25, 1973.

[Omitted here is material unrelated to the October 1973 War.]

Mr. Isma’il has received Dr. Kissinger’s message detailing the urgent steps which the U.S. side has taken to stop the renewed outbreak of fighting in the Suez area throughout 22–25 October.² While noting with appreciation those efforts, Mr. Isma’il would like to comment for the record on some of the formal Israeli assurances received by the U.S. side.

1. As for inviting the U.S. military attachés to the front, it is our view that this is not sufficient. We had asked for joint U.S.–Soviet presence to guarantee the ceasefire. Since the U.S. refuses to take such a measure, Egypt is asking the Security Council to provide an international force.

2. After the time fixed for the carrying into effect of the ceasefire at 0700 hours local time on October 24, the Israelis pursued their military operation, particularly in the southern front and are still continuing their offensive against the city of Suez.

3. Mr. Isma’il does not wish to be drawn into a futile exercise of detailed rebuttal of Israeli obvious fabrications. Instead, the Egyptian Government is formally asking the Secretary General to submit an official report detailing all the specifics and timings of all contacts and orders issued to or received by the UN observers. Such a record will undoubtedly unmask once and for all the Israeli fabrications which are obviously designed to help create and establish an intolerable situation in flagrant violation of the Security Council Resolution of the 23rd of October.³

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 132, Country Files, Middle East, Ismail/Egypt, Vol. VII, October 1–31, 1973. Secret; Sensitive.
2. See footnote 3, Document 266.
3. At Egypt’s request, the Security Council met October 24–26 to consider Egyptian charges of Israeli violations of the cease-fire. See Yearbook of the United Nations, 1973, pp. 200–203.