400. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel1
224677. Subject: Message From Secretary to Prime Minister Begin. Ref: Tel Aviv 15692.2
1. Secret-entire text.
2. You should pass following to Begin as an oral message from Secretary Muskie.
3. Begin text: Ambassador Lewis has reported to me on his talk with you on August 22 and your expression of concern about the United States abstention recently in the Security Council and about a passage from my speech on that occasion.3
—I hope you will understand that the United States’ decision to abstain on the resolution in question was not an easy one for any of us who were involved. We reached it after the most careful study and consideration. As I made clear in my speech, we view the resolution as being fundamentally flawed; we specifically reject the call on sovereign states to move their Embassies from Jerusalem; and we will firmly and forcefully resist any attempt to impose sanctions against Israel. At the same time we had to take into account the long-standing position of the United States on unilateral actions in regard to Jerusalem. In these circumstances we did not feel we could either support or veto the resolution.
—I thought it was important, however, that a clear and full statement be made of the United States’ views on the resolution and on the harmful effect the Security Council’s repeated resolutions are having on our work for peace. My desire to underscore that point and to try to stop a continuing succession of anti-Israel resolutions warranted by delivering that statement personally. I do not believe the statement needs [Page 1339] elaboration, but the questions you have raised are understandable. I can assure you that the particular passage on Islamic states was not intended in any way to involve nations in the peace negotiations which are not directly and legitimately concerned, i.e., only those nations which are Israel’s neighbors and which accept the principles of Resolution 242, chief among which is the recognition of Israel’s right to live in peace within secure and recognized borders. There is no change in the United States’ view of Resolution 242 or the means by which peace is to be reached. At the same time we continue to urge all parties to refrain from taking unilateral steps that could make the realization of peace more difficult. End text.
3. Along with foregoing you should convey to the Prime Minister the Secretary’s assurance of his continued warm friendship for Israel and for the Prime Minister personally. Please say that the Secretary looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Prime Minister and his government for the strengthening of the very close relations between the United States and Israel and for the achievement of a comprehensive and lasting Middle East peace.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880142–1034. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Korn; cleared by Hunter, Newlin, Constable, W. Scott Butcher (S/S–O), and Raymond G. Seitz (S/S–O); approved by Christopher. A draft version of Muskie’s oral message is in the Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 37, Israel: 8/15–31/80. Lewis delivered the text of the message to Begin over the telephone on August 24. (Telegram 15711 from Tel Aviv, August 24; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880142–1027)↩
- During their August 22 meeting, Lewis reported, Begin opened the discussion on the U.N. Security Council vote “in a subdued, hurt, and martyred tone by saying how deeply the U.S. abstention hurt him.” The discussion between Lewis and Begin was conveyed in telegram 15692 from Tel Aviv, August 22. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880142–1045)↩
- See Document 399.↩