188. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel1
5305. Subject: Message to the President From Begin on Settlements Issue.
1. The following is the text of the message from Begin to the President on the settlements issue handed to the Secretary by Dinitz today, January 9 (septel).
2. Begin quote: Dear Mr. President, I thank you for your urgent message transmitted to me over the telephone by Ambassador Lewis on Saturday night, January 7.2 The Government of Israel took yesterday the following decision:
3. ‘To strengthen the existing settlements in Pithat Rafiah (the area between Rafiah and El-Arish), and alongside the Gulf of Eilat by adding arable land for cultivation and increasing the civilian population both urban and rural.’
[Page 923]4. The Cabinet Secretary was instructed, if asked whether this means the establishment of new settlements in the two areas, to answer no.
5. He was, indeed, asked by the press and this was his reply.
6. As far as Judea and Samaria are concerned, I asked our Foreign Minister, Mr. Dayan, to check the relevant minutes of his talks with you, Mr. President, in September 1977.3 At yesterday’s Cabinet session, Mr. Dayan read from the aforesaid document, the copy of which is before me as I write. It is Government of Israel cable no. 26 of September 19, 1977.
7. In it Mr. Dayan informs me that you, Mr. President, stated to him ‘the illegality of the settlements and their being an obstacle to peace.’ I told him frankly, Dayan continues, ‘that he is mistaken to assume that the settlements are illegal or are an obstacle to peace, and that we are not flexible. This government is no less flexible than the previous one, but there cannot be a government in Israel that will not establish settlements. I promised him that I will recommend to you that in the near future only six settlements will be established in military camps. I added that it is possible that in the course of time a decision will be taken about additional military camps in the same way.’
8. This statement by our Foreign Minister is borne out in the minutes on the exchange of views between Vice President Mondale and Mr. Dayan.
9. We had, indeed, by January 1, established those six settlements in military camps. Last week, the Cabinet decided to establish four additional settlements, all of them in military camps. This, too, is in complete conformity with what our Foreign Minister told you, Mr. President, and your colleagues.
10. I can therefore sum up and say that the Government of Israel observes scrupulously, not only in spirit but also to the letter, any promise given to you by its representatives. The Government of Israel, of course, fulfills its commitments towards its people in our land as it is in duty and honor bound to do.
11. Yours respectfully and sincerely,
12. M. Begin. End quote.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East File, Subject File, Box 2, Arab-Israeli Peace Negotiations: Volume II [I]. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by A.A. Houghton (NEA/IAI), cleared by Thomas Martin (S/S–O), and approved byVeliotes.↩
- Neither the President’s message nor a transcript of the telephone conversation has been found.↩
- See Document 106.↩