45. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Nixon1
Secretary Kissinger has asked that I provide you with the following report.
“In a few hours I will be returning to Jerusalem from Amman2 to receive the views of the Israeli Government following its Cabinet meeting of yesterday. I am concerned that at best they will present me with a proposal which draws the line of disengagement through East Kuneitra and that my pleas and arguments that the line must be drawn to include all of Kuneitra will basically have gone unheeded. My concern has increased because I have now received clear-cut reports that in response to the emissaries which President Sadat and I sent to see Faisal,3 we have the full support of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait and a willingness on their part to apply pressure on Asad provided we can get Israel to agree to a disengagement proposal which draws the line to include all of Kuneitra as well as a small area in certain parts [Page 225] west of the October 6 line. I expect a similar reaction from Boumedienne whom the emissaries will see tonight. In short, my judgment is that the negotiation can succeed or fail with all of its implications over a kilometer or so in and around Kuneitra and a similar distance west of the October 6 line.
“The situation in which all Arab States will support us against Syria will not return. I shall therefore insist tonight that Israel yield in Kuneitra at the risk of public dissociation by the United States. I do this based on the conviction that I will have your full support. Later tonight a letter from you may be essential.
“If you disagree, please have Scowcroft flash me.”
Henry will be meeting briefly with Gromyko tomorrow on Cyprus. Gromyko is concluding his visit to Syria, and Henry felt that a meeting with him at this time before firm positions on the Syrian/Israeli disengagement had been developed would avoid the possibility that the Soviets could become involved in the substance of the discussions.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 136, Country Files, Middle East, Dinitz, January 1–July 1, 1974. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent for information. A handwritten notation at the top of the page reads, “The President has seen.”↩
- Kissinger met with Hussein on May 5 from 5:10 to 7:17 p.m. at the Royal Diwan in Amman. (Memorandum of Conversation, RG 59, Records of Henry Kissinger, Box 8, Nodis Memcons, May 1974, Folder 3)↩
- Kissinger had sent Harold Saunders and Sadat had sent Ashraf Marwan as emissaries to see Faisal and Boumedienne. See Document 43.↩