Office of the Historian

224. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Saunders) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Newsom)1

Washington, March 19, 1979

SUBJECT

  • U.S.-Israel Agreement on Airbase Construction: Circular 175 Authority

We request authority to negotiate and conclude an agreement with the Government of Israel relating to construction by the United States of two airbases in Israel in connection with Israel’s withdrawal from Sinai under the Egypt-Israel peace treaty. We would like to have a DOD-State-Embassy team begin negotiations in Israel on March 23, 1979. We will continue to keep the Congress informed on this matter.

A Memorandum of Law is attached.2

Recommendation

That you authorize the negotiation and conclusion of a U.S.-Israel Agreement on Airbase Construction along the lines of the draft text at Tab 2.3 Any subsequent changes to this draft will be subject to prior approval by NEA, T, PM, L and the Department of Defense.4

  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P780044–1989. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Deputy Director, Office of Israel and Arab-Israeli Affairs, Department of State, Charles M. Hill.↩
  2. Attached but not printed.↩
  3. Attached but not printed.↩
  4. Newsom initialed his approval on March 21.↩