Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume VIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, January 1977–August 1978

95. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel¹

Washington, August 17, 1977, 2322Z

195927. Subject: Message to Begin. You should see Begin immediately and pass to him the following response from the President to Begin’s letter² and the events of yesterday:³

1. The President is glad to receive assurances from the Prime Minister that Israel is not going to act in South Lebanon.

2. With respect to the settlements on the West Bank we are going to issue the following statement on August 18: Quote Our position on the issue of settlements is clear. We reaffirm what we have said many times before. These unilateral, illegal acts in territories presently under Israeli occupation create obstacles to constructive negotiations.⁴ Unquote.

3. You should tell Begin that our informing him of our statement is in accordance with our understanding that we will tell them in advance when we are going to make such announcements.

4. You should inform Prime Minister Begin that the repetition of these acts will make it difficult for the President not to reaffirm publicly the US position regarding 1967 borders with minor modifications.

Vance

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840083–0082. Secret; Immediate; Nodis; Cherokee. Drafted and approved by Habib. Cleared by Atherton and Tarnoff. Repeated August 17 to the White House.
2. In an August 16 letter to Carter, Begin characterized the discussions between Vance and the Israelis regarding the PLO as tense. He argued that the PLO “cannot be compared to the Irish Underground or to the Algerian FLN in its day. The Irish want the British Army to leave Northern Ireland, they don’t want London. The FLN wanted the Frenchmen to leave Algeria, they didn’t want Paris. The so-called PLO want Jerusalem, our heart and our life.” Begin continued that to achieve its ends, the PLO “employ the most barbaric genocidal means by turning the civilian population into the target of their attack. They never attack our soldiers or our military installations. Since January this year our population has suffered 130 casualties, all of them civilians, many of them maimed for life.” He noted his “hope that there is complete agreement between us that we cannot have that organization as a partner to negotiations in a reconvened Geneva Conference.” Begin concluded by acknowledging his intention to send Carter a draft treaty by the first week of September and his willingness to consult Carter regarding any action taken by Israel in Southern Lebanon. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East File, Subject File, Box 48, Israel: 8/77)
3. The Israeli Government announced on August 15 that it would extend services to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, raising fears that it was planning to annex the area, and on August 17 announced the construction of three new settlements on the West Bank. (“Israelis Authorize 3 New Settlements in Occupied Sector,” New York Times, August 18, 1977, p. 1)
4. The Department of State issued the statement on August 18. (Bernard Gwertzman, “U.S. Assails Israelis on New Settlements in West Bank Region,” New York Times, August 19, 1977, p. 43)