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

334. White House Press Release¹

Washington, November 9, 1973.

TEXT OF A LETTER TO UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL KURT WALDHEIM FROM SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY A. KISSINGER

Dear Mr. Secretary General:

I have the honor to inform you that the governments of Egypt and Israel are prepared to accept the following agreement which implements Article I of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 338 and Article I of United Nations Security Council Resolution 339.

The text of this agreement is as follows:

A. Egypt and Israel agree to observe scrupulously the ceasefire called for by the UN Security Council.

B. Both sides agree that discussions between them will begin immediately to settle the question of the return to the October 22 positions in the framework of agreement on the disengagement and separation of forces under the auspices of the UN.

C. The town of Suez will receive daily supplies of food, water and medicine. All wounded civilians in the town of Suez will be evacuated.

D. There shall be no impediment to the movement of non-military supplies to the East Bank.

E. The Israeli checkpoints on the Cairo–Suez road will be replaced by UN checkpoints. At the Suez end of the road Israeli officers can participate with the UN to supervise the non-military nature of the cargo at the bank of the Canal.

F. As soon as the UN checkpoints are established on the Cairo–Suez road, there will be an exchange of all prisoners of war, including wounded.

It has also been agreed by the two parties that they will hold a meeting under the auspices of the United Nations Commander at the usual place (kilometer 101 on the Suez–Cairo road) to sign this agreement and to provide for its implementation. I would be most grateful if you would take the appropriate steps to insure that a meeting is held on Saturday, November 10, 1973, or at such other time as may be mutually convenient of representatives of the parties to take the appropriate steps.

We intend to announce publicly the agreement at noon New York time on Friday, November 9, 1973.²

Best regards,

/s/ Henry A. Kissinger

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1336, NSC Secretariat, NSC Unfiled Material, 1973, 11 of 12. No classification marking. Marked “For Immediate Release.”
2. On November 9, the U.S. Mission released the text of Scali’s letter to Waldheim transmitting Kissinger’s letter; see The New York Times, November 10, 1973.