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June 17, 1974 - Nixon, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin
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1552724
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document
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June 17, 1974 - Nixon, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Nixon Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Middle East conflicts
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1974-06-17
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1974
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1974-06-17
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1974
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation
Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Scoworth file
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Nixon
Yitzhak Rabin, Prime Minister of Israel
Major General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs
DATE AND TIME:
Monday, June 17, 1974
PLACE:
The Knesset
Jerusalem
SUBJECT:
Private Meeting on Israeli Long-Term Arms
Needs
Rabin: The Soviets have furnished three generations of weapons and
and are preparing a fourth for the Arabs.
The problems we face are, first, the terrorists. We are thinking
of putting a network of sensors along the Lebanese border to stop
infiltration.
By 1984 the Arabs will have 1300 SCUDS (there are now 400 in
Egypt), 2600 aircraft, and 250 SAM batteries. We want to maintain the
ratio of one to three, that is, an Israeli force of one-third of the Arab
armaments. To do this we want to buy over the next ten years: 600 planes,
2000 artillery pieces, and the Pershing and Lance missiles. We will
need shelters for our tanks and planes and to fortify our frontiers, and
so on. A posture of defense is more costly than a posture of mobility.
The Soviets are providing an early warning for the Arabs. We
have lost our 12-24 hour early warning. Therefore we must trade space
for time. So our frontiers are also mobile and therefore we must fortify
border after border as the negotiations move step by step.
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
DECLASSIFIED
GERALD
LIBRARY
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC V Wa MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES, state Deview3/9104
NARC DATE 8/6/04
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
2
Our ten-year plan will have two five-year parts. We want
joint technological ventures in Defense that is, with the anti-tank
missile, anti-personnel weapons, and helicopters.
In sum, Mr. President, we will negotiate but we must not at
the same time risk our survival.
The total force against us now is as follows: 4500 tanks; 2500 artiller
pieces; and 200 SAMs. This is a big force even by World War II standards.
The Arabs have twice as many as Hitler had. In addition there are 2000
organized terrorists. Their headquarters are in Beirut and Damascus,
some in fortified positions and underground.
Their air defenses have made our ground support more difficult.
Israel's defense expenditures were half of our GNP as a result
of the October War. In 1974 Israel must spend $2 billion compared with
$100 million in 1972. The ratio of our taxes to national income is the
highest in the world -- 62%. An annual deficit of $3 billion is forecast.
Two billion of this is due to defense. From '70-74, Israel spend $4. 3 billion
for defense -- $2. 3 billion in US credits.
For the next ten years -- 1974-83 -- we will need $1. 5 billion in
US assistance per year. Over the next five years we need $20 billion;
$7. 5 billion will be purchased in the U.S. We need $3 billion in U.S. aid
over the next 2-3 years. For all other purposes, $1/2 billion per year.
$8 billion is for covering defense expenditures over the next
We would like the $1. 5 billion in grant. We propose an economic
cooperation agreement.
The President: I understand your situation. Unfortunately, you know I
can't commit past my term. The Congress won't appropriate more than
on a yearly basis. In addition, to go public with a massive -- $2 billion
a year -- program for Israel gives us a massive political problem. You
don't need the symbolism. You must think in long-range terms, but we
should present it as that. The enormity of it would be counterproductive.
Some people say we should have a treaty with you; I think you do
better without one.
What you need is to get it done -- not the symbolism. Work closely
with us, but stay away from the rhetoric and focus on the hardware.
FORD
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
3
For my term, you have the technological cooperation agreements.
We must talk further about the long-term commitment. I don't
want you to make plans on a U.S. commitment we can't deliver.
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
Pres/Rabin/Com
THE WHITE HOUSE
THE WHITE HOUSE
THE WASHINGTON WHITE HOUSE 17 June 74
WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON
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Public & home his
of. -19 helight AT missile, Anti personal
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES state Review 3/9/04
RY Lob
MADA DATE 8/6/04
THE WHITE HOUSE
THE WHITE HOUSE
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON
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