Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXVI, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1974–1976

139. Letter From President Ford to Israeli Prime Minister Rabin¹

Washington, March 7, 1975.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

I am writing to express my further thoughts on the terrorist outrage at the Savoy Hotel². I want you to know how deeply I feel about such senseless acts.

I also want you to know how strongly I believe that our progress toward peace must be maintained. We cannot permit this act of terrorism to attain the goal it seeks—the disruption and collapse of our current peace efforts. I, therefore, hope that your Government’s response to this tragedy will be consistent with our mutual interest in maintaining momentum toward a settlement.

Please be assured, Mr. Prime Minister, that the people of the United States fully share with you and your countrymen your grief at this tragic and outrageous event. We are determined to do all we can to attain a peace which will put an end to acts of this nature.

Sincerely,

Gerald R. Ford

1. Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, CL 157, Geopolitical File, Israel, March 1975. No classification marking. A handwritten notation at the top of the page reads, “Delivered by courier to Min. Shalev at 7:00 p.m.”
2. On the night of March 5, eight PLO guerrillas arrived secretly by boat on a beach in Tel Aviv. They entered the Savoy Hotel and forcibly took the hotel guests hostage. On the morning of March 6, an Israeli commando unit stormed the hotel, leading to a brief battle. The fighting left seven of the eight guerrillas dead and five hostages and three Israeli soldiers were killed.