211. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Begin1
JC: . . . wonderful to hear your voice again.
MB: May I congratulate you on your speech.2 I have good news. The two outstanding issues today have been resolved in the Cabinet.
JC: . . . credit to your leadership.
MB: Suggestion in Cabinet that Ezer (Weizman) go to U.S. as soon as possible, and would like to have a meeting with competent advisers of Egypt—Perhaps General Ali (or McDoo [Macdoub?] Tamir will also come. And they will finish the (Sinai) withdrawal stages, to be made final from Blair House.
Would like to ask you to use your good offices of Eilts and make suggestion to Egyptians. Either General Ali, ?, or Mubarak.
JC: Have you picked out a time?
MB: Ezer could leave tomorrow or within a few days.
JC: I will tell Eilts to work out schedule with Ambassador Lewis.
MB: Oil also approved. Minister of Energy has a suggestion to make. There are no conditions. Would like him to speak to Vance and Vance to you. He has something of interest to tell you.
JC: Okay. I will tell Vance to expect the call.
MB: Last issue, in conjunction with your letter regarding unilateral action—please send to me (Begin) first the draft letter3 before sending it to Sadat.
[Page 740]JC: I will do so.
JC: Let me respond. I think the entire process is gratifying to all of us. I want to express my thanks for your hospitality, and my admiration to you as a strong leader.
MB: Strength from Abraham. Thanks.
I also want to ask Secretary Brown to meet with Ezer to discuss bilateral matters.
JC: Secretary Brown will be glad to meet with Ezer.
MB: I have now been empowered by the Cabinet. You may think now I didn’t make a mistake when I said you would leave the country with satisfaction.
JC: Thanks. We will be extending to you and Sadat an invitation at the earliest convenient date and will clear the schedule with you and Sadat before making the invitation public.
MB: The debate will take place next week, perhaps Monday,4 Tuesday or Wednesday. The debate will last for 10–12 hours. I hope to get a majority, and even a strong majority.
You saw our democratic process. You have had the experience.
JC: It was a very interesting experience.
MB: In Parliament you know you have to know how to take and how to give. I must still meet coalition parties. I suppose the opposition will vote with us. I hope to get a majority. If not, government will resign, as I said yesterday to the Israeli people.
JC: Israel cannot afford to lose you as Prime Minister. Good luck.
MB: Best to Rosalynn . . .
JC: Our love to Alisa . . .
MB: Only one thing, if the Egyptians prefer the meeting to take place at American encampment at Sinai or in Washington, we will accept either proposal.
JC: I will inquire through Hermann Eilts
MB: Let me know through Lewis.
JC: This is good news indeed.
MB: God bless you.
JC: Good bye.
- Source: Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of State—1977–1980, Lot 84D241, Box 5, Middle East Peace Treaty—1979. No classification marking. The President’s Daily Diary notes that Carter spoke with Begin from 9:20 a.m. to 9:26 a.m., March 14. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials) At the top of the transcript, Carter wrote: “ok. cc: Cy, Zbig, take action on all items. J.”↩
- Upon his early morning arrival from Cairo at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on March 14, Carter delivered a short address on the success of the Middle East trip. The full text of Carter’s speech is printed in Public Papers: Carter, 1979, Book I, pp. 430–431.↩
- On March 20, the Department sent the Embassy in Tel Aviv a draft copy of a letter from Carter to Khalil, informing Khalil of a number of assurances made by Begin to the President during their March 13 breakfast meeting to unilaterally improve political conditions in the West Bank and Gaza, including the lifting of restrictions on political activity and freedom of movement in the territories, as well as the repeal of detention without trial and the relocation of the Israeli military headquarters in Gaza. (Telegram 68933 to Tel Aviv, March 20; Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, State Department Out, Box 115, 3/17–21/79) Lewis delivered the text of the letter to Begin on March 20. (Telegram 931 from Jerusalem, March 20; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850011–1318) The final text of the letter is printed as Document 236.↩
- March 19.↩