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    "label": "United Jewish Appeal, New York, NY, June 8, 1970",
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    "id": "4526291",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "United Jewish Appeal, New York, NY, June 8, 1970",
    "description": "This file contains material relating to General Giap.",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4526291",
    "collections": [
        "Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers",
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    "subjects": [
        "Israel",
        "Egypt",
        "Soviet Union",
        "Arms transfers",
        "Middle East conflicts",
        "Pacifism",
        "Terrorism",
        "Vietnam War, 1961-1975"
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    "ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box D29, folder \"United Jewish Appeal, New York,\nNY, June 8, 1970\" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at\nthe Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to\nremain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid\ncopyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nDigitized from Box D29 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nUNITED JEWISH APPEAL, NEW YORK CITY,\nNEW YORK, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1970.\n10.30 A.M.\nTHE REASON FOR THIS MEETING IS\nOBVIOUS. THIS IS A TIME FOR ACTION.\nWE\nHAVE HEARD ENOUGH RHETORIC\nCHILDREN ARE DYING IN ISRAEL.\nTHEY ARE BEING KILLED BY SOVIET ROCKETS\nIN THE HANDS OF ARABS WHO ARE EMULATING\nTHE VIET CONG AND THE COMMUNISTS OF\nNORTH VIETNAM.\nWHAT IS MY JUSTIFICATION FOR\nSTATING THAT THE ARAB EXTREMISTS ARE\nADOPTING VIET CONG TERRORIST TACTICS.\nI CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A RECENT VISIT\nTO HANOI BY A DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE\nTOP LEADERSHIP OF THE AL FATAH ARAB\nGUERRILLA MOVEMENT. THE ARABS WERE\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nINVITED BY GEN. GIAP, THE MILITARY LEADER\n-2-\nOF NORTH VIETNAM.\nA TEXT OF THE MINUTES OF THE\nMEETING WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PUBLISHED BY THE\nARABS AND THE NORTH VIETNAMESE. GEN. GIAP\nTOLD THE ARABS, \"WE FIGHT TOGETHER;\" AND\nHE ADDED, \"YOU ARE RIGHT TO CLEAR THE\nGROUND OF ITS ISRAELI FORCES AND BLOW UP\nTHEIR HOUSES AND LIQUIDATE THEIR PRESENCE.\"\nTHAT WAS HANOI' S ADVICE TO THE ARABS.\nTHE HANOI MEETING WAS FOLLOWED\nBY THE RETURN OF THE ARAB GUERRILLA\nLEADERS TO THE MIDDLE EAST AND SOME VERY\nTERRIBLE EVENTS. A SCHOOL BUS WAS\nAMBUSHED. ROCKETS WERE FIRED INTO SCHOOL\nHOUSES. MANY CHILDREN WERE KILLED.\nOTHERS LAY MAIMED IN HOSPITALS.\nGEN. GIAP EQUATED THE ISRAELIS\nWITH THE AMERICANS. HE WANTED TOTAL\nDEFEAT IMPOSED UPON BOTH. HE PREDICTED\nTHAT \"THE PALESTINIAN REVOLUTION WILL\n-3-\nTRIUMPH LIKE THE VIETNAMESE REVOLUTION.\"\nARAFAT, THE LEADER OF THE\nROCKETEERS WHO AIM AT ISRAELI SCHOOL\nHOUSES, TOLD HIS VIETNAMESE COMMUNIST\nHOSTS THAT THE ARABS HAD \"BENEFITTED A\nGREAT DEAL FROM THE TACTICS OF CHAIRMAN\nHO CHI MINH.\"\nGEN. GIAP VOICED PLEASURE THAT\nARAB \"GUERRILLA WARFARE IS DEVELOPING AND\nYOU HAVE SCORED BIG VICTORIES.\"\nGEN. GIAP IS PRAISED BY A FEW\nOF OUR AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS FOR\nHIS SO-CALLED HEROISM. HE NOW TELLS THE\nARABS THAT \"ANY METHOD WHICH CAN ACHIEVE\nYOUR VICTORY IS A GOOD METHOD.\" \"WE FIGHT\nWITH MILITARY MEANS. THIS IS THE MAIN FORM\nOF FIGHTING, BUT SIMULTANEOUSLY WE FIGHT\nBY POLITICAL MEANS.\" HE ADDED THAT\nGRALD FORD LIBRARY\n\"CHAIRMAN HO CHI MINH HAS SAID: 'WE MUST\nDEPEND FIRST ON OUR OWN POWER AND THEN ON\n-4-\nTHE SUPPORT AND THE BACKING OF THE\nPROGRESSIVE FORCES IN THE WORLD \"\nGEN. GIAP WENT ON TO EXPRESS\nUNQUALIFIED ADMIRATION FOR \"THE FIGHTING\nSPIRIT OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THE\nARAB PEOPLE, AND OUR UNRESERVED SUPPORT\nFOR YOUR STRUGGLE.\" HE VOICED CONFIDENCE\nTHAT THE ARABS WOULD DESTROY ISRAEL IN THE\nSO-CALLED \"LIBERATION STRUGGLE.\"\nI COULD NOT HELP BUT THINK OF\nTHE KILLING OF ISRAELI CHILDREN WHEN THE\nPRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THE CAPTURE OF SO MUCH\nENEMY WEAPONRY IN CAMBODIA. I COULD NOT\nHELP BUT THINK THAT A RUSSIAN-MADE OR\nCHINESE-MADE ROCKET OR MINE OR MORTAR OR\nARTILLERY PIECE CAPTURED BY OUR TROOPS\nDIMINISHES THE STOCKPILES FROM WHICH THE\nCOMMUNISTS SUPPLY THE RADICAL ARAB FORCES.\nWHEN RUSSIA AND CHINA DIG INTO THEIR\nARMS STOCKPILES TO MAKE UP HANOI'S WEAPON\n-5-\nLOSSES, THEY OBVIOUSLY WILL HAVE FEWER\nNEW ARMS TO SEND TO THE ARABS. IF THE\nLIFE OF A SINGLE ISRAELI CHILD IS SPARED,\nHOWEVER INDIRECTLY, BY THE IMPACT WE HAVE\nHAD UPON COMMUNIST ARMS STOCKPILES AND\nREPLACEMENT SHIPMENTS TO VARIOUS TERRORISTS\nFORCES OF THE WORLD, I WOULD BE EVEN MORE\nAPPRECIATIVE OF THE HEROISM OF OUR BRAVE\nSOLDIERS.\nLET ME SAY A WORD ABOUT THE WAR\nIN VIETNAM AND THE PACIFIST-ISOLATIONIST\nSENTIMENT IN OUR NATION TODAY. THERE IS\nA GRAVE DANGER INHERENT IN THE AMENDMENTS\nPENDING BEFORE THE SENATE TO RESTRICT THE\nABILITY OF OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO RESPOND\nTO WORLDWIDE COMMUNIST THREATS AND\nINVOLVEMENTS. THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD\nBAR THE USE OF AMERICAN FORCES UNLESS\nFORD LIBRARY\nTHERE IS A DIRECT ENEMY ATTACK ON AMERICAN\nUNITS OR THE TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES.\n-6-\nPOSSIBLE AGGRESSORS WOULD BE\nASSURED, UNDER SOME NEW CONCEPTS ADVANCED\nIN CONGRESS -- ASSURED THAT THE UNITED\nSTATES WOULD NEVER USE ITS FORCES UNDER\nSPECIFIED CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT WE WOULD\nBE INHIBITED, RESTRICTED, AND RESTRAINED.\nI HAVE NOT HEARD OF THE SOVIET UNION\nENACTING ANY SUCH AMENDMENTS. I HAVE\nHEARD OF THEM PUSHING DANGEROUSLY INTO\nTHE MIDDLE EAST AND LANDING MISSILE\nTROOPS AND AIR SQUADRONS IN EGYPT.\nWE MUST NOT CIRCUMSCRIBE THE\nDIPLOMATIC INFLUENCE OF THE PRESIDENT IN\nSEEKING TO DETER AGGRESSION. LET US\nCONSIDER THE SOVIET MILITARY MOVEMENT\nINTO EGYPT, THE ACTUAL PRESENCE OF\nCOMBAT-READY RUSSIAN FORCES ON THE\nCONTINENT OF AFRICA, A NEW \"AFRIKA CORPS\"\nONLY A QUARTER-CENTURY AFTER THE DEFEAT\nOF THE GERMAN NAZIS OF ROMMEL IN NORTH\n-7-\nAFRICA. THERE ARE GRIM IMPLICATIONS FOR\nISRAEL. BUT I ALSO DISCERN A SITUATION\nVITALLY AFFECTING THE NATIONAL SECURITY\nOF THE UNITED STATES.\nJUST AS WE HAVE NOT WRITTEN OFF\nISRAEL, WE HAVE NOT WRITTEN OFF THE\nMIDDLE EAST. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE STILL\nINVOLVED IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, EVEN THOUGH\nAN ANTI-MILITARY MOOD EXISTS AT HOME,\nEVEN THOUGH THERE IS DIVISION AMONG OUR\nPEOPLE -- LET THE COMMUNISTS NOT\nMISCALCULATE. LET THEM NOT PUSH US TOO HARD.\nTHE COMMUNISTS MAY LEARN THAT\nTHEY HAVE NEITHER ISOLATED NOR\nNEUTRALIZED THE UNITED STATES. IN THE\nMIDDLE EAST, BY GIVING MILITARY SUPPORT\nTO THE ARAB CAUSE, MOSCOW IS SEEKING TO\nREPLACE THE UNITED STATES AS THE DOMINANT\nPOWER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. MOSCOW HAS\nDEMANDED THAT THE UNITED STATES SIXTH FLEET\n-8-\nLEAVE THE MEDITERRANEAN. WE SHOULD\nIMMEDIATELY MOVE TO STRENGTHEN OUR FLEET.\nTHAT IS THE BEST ANSWER.\nTHE SOVIET GAME IN EGYPT FAR\nTRANSCENDS THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT. THE\nRUSSIANS ARE FISHING IN THOSE TROUBLED\nWATERS TO UNDERMINE THE SOUTHERN FLANK OF\nNATO, DOMINATE THE MEDITERRANEAN, AND\nSPREAD COMMUNIST INFLUENCE FROM THE INDIAN\nOCEAN TO THE SOUTH ATLANTIC.\nLET ME STATE ONE CONVICTION\nVERY SIMPLY: I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE\nFATE OF ISRAEL IS LINKED WITH THE NATIONAL\nSECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES.\nAMERICANS OF JEWISH FAITH FEEL\nVERY PERSONAL AND HUMAN AND UNDERSTANDABLE\nTIES WITH THE STATE OF ISRAEL. BUT\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nMILLIONS OF OTHER AMERICANS ALSO CAN\nIDENTIFY WITH THE ISRAELIS AND WITH THEIR\nDEDICATION TO FREEDOM AND SURVIVAL AS A\n-9-\nNATION. THERE ARE SOME VERY INSTRUCTIVE\nLESSONS THAT AMERICANS OF ALL FAITHS COULD\nLEARN FROM THE ISRAELIS.\nBUT I DID NOT COME HERE TODAY TO\nCOMPLIMENT THE ISRAELIS. THEIR COURAGE\nPROVIDES ITS OWN COMMENTARY. I CAME TO\nASSURE YOU THAT ACTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN.\nI AM FREE TO SPEAK ONLY OF MY OWN\nINITIATIVE AND MY OWN ACTION. TODAY I CAN\nDISCLOSE THAT ON JUNE 2 I SENT A PERSONAL\nLETTER TO PRESIDENT NIXON.\nI STATED THAT IN VIEW OF THE\nDANGEROUS AND AGGRESSIVE ESCALATION OF\nTHE CRISIS APPARENT IN THE INTRUSION OF\nSOVIET COMBAT PILOTS AND MISSILE\nBATTALIONS INTO EGYPT, A NEW SENSE OF\nURGENCY HAS DEVELOPED AMONG MEMBERS OF\nTHE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING\nTHE NECESSITY FOR A from MEASURED AMERICAN\nGERALD\nRESPONSE.\n-10-\nIT WAS MY OWN BELIEF, SHARED BY\nA MAJORITY OF MY COLLEAGUES, THAT THE TIME\nHAD COME FOR THE UNITED STATES TO APPROVE\nTHE SALE OF THE ADDITIONAL PHANTOM AND\nSKYHAWK AIRCRAFT SOUGHT BY ISRAEL.\nTHE FAILURE TO PROVIDE THESE\nJETS MAY HAVE DISASTROUS RESULTS. MY\nLETTER POINTED OUT THAT THE SOVIET UNION\nHAS IGNORED OUR RESTRAINT AND INCREASED ITS\nOWN INVOLVEMENT IN A VOLATILE SITUATION.\nWE MUST REDRESS THE BALANCE BY\nPROVIDING THE JETS TO ISRAEL. THIS WOULD\nREASSURE OUR FRIENDS AND PREVENT OUR\nENEMIES FROM MISCALCULATING.\nIF WE DISPLAY INHIBITION IN THE\nface\nFACT OF SOVIET MILITARY PENETRATION, THE\nRUSSIANS WILL PRESS MORE VIGOROUSLY THEIR\nDRIVE TO PENETRATE THE MIDDLE EAST AND\nMEDITERRANEAN. WE COULD ANTICIPATE\nSERALD LIBRARY A.FORD\nGREATER ARAB BELLIGERENCE THROUGH\n-11-\nINCREASED COMMITMENT OF CONVENTIONAL\nAND GUERRILLA FORCES.\nTHE PRESIDENT IS AWARE THAT AN\nINTOLERABLE SITUATION WILL DEVELOP IF\nTHE SOVIET AIR FORCE PROVIDES EGYPT WITH\nA PRIVILEGED SANCTUARY FROM WHICH TO SALLY\nFORTH ACROSS THE SUEZ CANAL WITH COMMANDO\nRAIDS, AIR RAIDS, ARTILLERY BARRAGES, AND\nAMPHIBIOUS ATTACKS. SOVIET PLANES AND\nPILOTS INTRUDING ON THE UNITED NATIONS\nCEASE FIRE ZONE ALONG THE SUEZ CANAL ADD\nA DANGEROUS NEW DIMENSION TO THE MIDDLE\nEAST CONFLICT.\nTHERE ARE COMPELLING REASONS TO\nBOLSTER ISRAEL IN SUCH MANNER AS TO MAKE\nTHE RUSSIANS THINK TWICE BEFORE TACKLING\nTHE VALIANT ISRAELI AIR FORCE. I ALSO AM\nCONVINCED THERE IS DANGER OF A MOOD OF\nDESPERATION IN ISRAEL, BORN OF A SENSE OF\nLIBRARY\nABANDONMENT, THAT MIGHT LEAD THE ISRAELIS\n-12-\nTO LAUNCH PRE-EMPTIVE OPERATIONS THAT COULD\nBRING ABOUT OPEN HOSTILITIES WITH SOVIET\nMILITARY FORCES.\nTHE PRESIDENT IS AWARE THAT,\nUNLIKE SOME OTHER NATIONS MENACED BY\nCOMMUNISM, ISRAEL HAS NOT ASKED FOR\nAMERICAN MANPOWER. IF THE ISRAELIS ARE\nWILLING TO STAND UP FOR THEIR OWN\nSURVIVAL, WE MUST AT LEAST PROVIDE THE\nNECESSARY ARMS..\nIT WAS MY FEELING THAT ASSURANCE\nOF CONTINUITY IN THE SUPPLY OF PHANTOM JETS\nAND OTHER ARMS\nTO ISRAEL WAS IN KEEPING\nWITH THE PRESIDENT'S COURAGEOUS PUBLIC\nREMARKS OF APRIL 30 ON THE CAMBODIAN\nSITUATION. THE CHIPS ARE DOWN IN THE\nMIDDLE EAST. WE MUST ACT TO RETAIN\nCREDIBILITY AMONG FRIENDS AND FOES. WE MUST\nDETER THE SOVIET UNION FROM ITS NEW\nBRINKMANSHIP WHICH SEEKS TO EXPLOIT OUR\n-13-\nOUR PRESENT CONCERNS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.\nWE MUST LET THE RUSSIANS KNOW THAT\nNEO-ISOLATIONISM AND PACIFICISM ARE NOT\nYET SUCH AMERICANS THAT COMMUNISM\nHAS OUR INVITATION TO SUBJUGATE THE FREE\nWORLD.\nIT WOULD BE A VERY TIMELY MOVE\nFOR THE PRESIDENT NOT ONLY TO APPROVE\nTHE PENDING ARMS LIST FOR ISRAEL BUT ALSO\nBlue Robbon\nTO SEND A SPECIAL COMMISSION MADE UP OF\nAPPROPRIATE PERSONS TO THE MIDDLE EAST\nTO ASSESS THE DEVELOPING DANGER CREATED\nBY THE SOVIET ESCALATION. THE COMMISSION\nSHOULD INCLUDE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS,\nMEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND PERSONS FROM\nOUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WOULD SUGGEST\nTO THE RUSSIANS THE GRAVITY OF OUR CONCERN.\nISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER DAYAN\nDR.FORD\nRECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT ISRAEL HAD HALTED\nLIBRARY\nDEEP PENETRATION RAIDS INTO EGYPT TO AVOID\n-14-\nPOSSIBLE CLASHED WITH SOVIET FORCES. HE\nASSERTED READINESS TO RE-ESTABLISH AN\nUNCONDITIONAL AND UNLIMITED CEASE-FIRE.\nTHE ONLY RESPONSE FROM THE ARABS\nHAS BEEN A DRASTIC INCREASE IN ATTACKS\nAS THE RUSSIANS SCREEN EGYPT WITH A\nPROTECTIVE UMBRELLA. THE COMMITMENT OF\nRUSSIAN MILITARY FORCES CANNOT BE\nJUSTIFIED ON GROUNDS OF DEFENSE OF EGYPT.\nRUSSIAN INVOLVEMENT IS LINKED WITH THE\nMOUNTING ARAB CAMPAIGN TO LIQUIDATE\nISRAEL. THE COMMITMENT OF RUSSIAN\nMILITARY FORCES IS A NEGATION OF SOVIET\nPRETENSIONS TO PEACE-MAKING. PILOTS\nTROOPS, AND MISSILES ARE NO WAY TO REDUCE\nTENSIONS\nOUR GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED ON\nMARCH 23 THAT ADDITIONAL JET suspended SALES TO\nISRAEL WOULD BE TEMPORARILY HALTED. THE\nLIBRARY\nSTATE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THIS\n-15-\nRESTRAINT WAS REALLY A SIGNAL TO MOSCOW\nTHAT THE UNITED STATES WANTED TO COOL DOWN\nTHE ARMS RACE; WE WERE TAKING THE FIRST\nSTEP SO THAT THE RUSSIANS WOULD KNOW OUR\nPEACEFUL INTENTIONS AND SIMILARLY EXERCISE\nRESTRAINT. WE ARE NOW WELL AWARE OF THE\nSOVIET RESPONSE.\nWE ARE TRYING TO END ONE WAR\nUNDER CONDITIONS OF PEACE WITH HONOR.\nMOSCOW IS CYNICALLY ESCALATING ANOTHER\nWAR, INTRODUCING NEW ELEMENTS AND\nBRINGING TERRIBLE RISKS OF EXPANSION OF\nAN ALREADY TRAGIC CONFLICT.\nWE CANNOT PERMIT A SITUATION\nIN WHICH THE RUSSIANS WOULD COVER BY\nTHEIR OWN MILITARY FORCES THE UNRELENTING\nWAR OF ATTRITION BY THE ARABS AGAINST\nISRAEL. THE RUSSIAN MILITARY POWER PLAY\nIS A MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN. I USE THE\nWORDS \"GRAVE CONCERN\" WITH CAREFUL\n-16-\nDELIBERATION. PRESIDENT NIXON STATED ON\nFEBRUARY 18 THAT \"THE UNITED STATES WOULD\nVIEW ANY EFFORT BY THE SOVIET UNION TO\nSEEK PREDOMINANCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS A\nMATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN.\" HE WARNED\nAGAINST THE EXPLOITATION OF A LOCAL CONFLICT\nBY AN OUTSIDE POWER FOR ITS OWN ADVANTAGE.\nHE PLEDGED ARMS TO FRIENDLY STATES AS THE\nNEED ARISES. WE DELAYED ACTION TO\nOBTAIN A FIRST-HAND EXPLANATION FROM THE\nRUSSIANS OF THEIR INTENTIONS IN EGYPT.\nTHE EXPLANATION WAS UNSATISFACTORY.\nTHE SO-CALLED PEACE MOVEMENTS\nOF THE WORLD ARE STILL CRYING HYSTERICALLY\nFOR U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM INDO-CHINA\nALTHOUGH WE ARE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF\nWITHDRAWAL. I HAVE NOT YET HEARD THESE\nMOVEMENTS SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE WITHDRAWAL\nOF SOVIET TROOPS FROM THE ARAB-ISRAELI\nBATTLE FRONT. SINCE WHEN ARE RUSSIAN\nFORD & LIBRARY SERVID\n-17-\nTROOPS PURELY DEFENSIVE WHILE AMERICANS\nARE PURELY AGGRESSIVE?\nI PLACE GREAT EMPHASIS ON THE\nNEED FOR FAST ACTION TO STRENGTHEN THE\nISRAELI AIR FORCE. A STRONG AIRPOWER\nFACTOR WILL ALLOW ISRAEL TO MAINTAIN THAT\nNATION'S DEFENSE WITHOUT THE NEED FOR\nINVOLVEMENT OF AMERICAN PERSONNEL.\nIF WE ALLOW THE SOVIET UNION,\nTHROUGH BRUTAL APPLICATION OF ITS OWN\nMILITARY FORCES, TO CRUSH ISRAEL, IT WOULD\nMEAN THE END OF HOPE FOR ALL FREE NATIONS\nOF THE MEDITERRANEAN AND EVEN WESTERN\nEUROPE. III WOULD MEAN THE END OF THE\nUNITED STATES AS A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM\nISRAEL IS AN ASSET TO AMERICA,\nNOT A LIABILITY. THE RUSSIAN TARGET TODAY\nIS THE AIRCRAFT OF ISRAEL. TOMORROW THE\nTARGET OF THE NEW SOVIET EGYPTIAN AIR\nBASES MAY BE THE U.S. SIXTH FLEET. MOSCOW\n-18-\nIS CONVERTING EGYPT INTO AN UNSINKABLE\nAIRCRAFT CARRIER.\nPRESIDENT NIXON UNDERSTANDS THE\nNEED TO PRESERVE FREEDOM IN THE MIDDLE\nEAST. HE POINTED OUT THAT ISRAEL) S ENEMIES\nCAN AFFORD TO FIGHT A WAR AND LOSE. THEY\nCAN COME BACK TO FIGHT AGAIN. BUT ISRAEL\nCANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE EVEN ONCE.\nPRESIDENT NIXON SAID, \"AMERICA KNOWS THAT,\nAND AMERICA IS DETERMINED THAT ISRAEL IS\nHERE IN THE FAMILY OF NATIONS TO STAY.\"\nTHE REAL INTERESTS OF ARABS AND\nISRAELIS, OF RUSSIANS AND AMERICANS,\nREQUIRE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE. THE UNITED\nSTATES IS COMMITTED TO PEACEFUL AND\nHONORABLE DEALINGS WITH ALL MEN, AT HOME\nAND ABROAD. WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE\nCAN AS MEN OF CONSCIENCE AND INTEGRITY,\nTO PROMOTE PEACE.\nAND IN ISRAEL, THAT LAND WHERE\n-19-\nTHE PROPHETS DREAMED THAT NATION SHOULD NOT\nLIFT UP SWORD AGAINST NATION, LET THERE\nBE PEACE.\nFOR ISRAEL, A NATION OF PEOPLE\nWHOSE SUFFERING MERITS A LIFE MORE CREATIVE\nTHAN PERPETUAL SERVICE IN AN ARMED CAMP,\nLET THERE BE PEACE. FOR THE ARABS,\nWHOSE POVERTY AND FRUSTRATION REQUIRE\nSCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS AND A DECENT LIFE\nRATHER THAN THE ENDLESS PURCHASE OF JETS\nAND GUNS, LET THERE BE PEACE.\nISRAEL COULD BE A LIGHT UNTO THE\nNATIONS OF THAT REGION IF THE ARABS WOULD\nACCEPT FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS OF THE JEWISH\nFAITH AS ENTITLED TO NATIONHOOD AS ANY\nOTHER PEOPLE. THE GENIUS AND PRODUCTIVITY\nOF THE ISRAELIS COULD HELP OTHERS MAKE\nTHEIR DESERTS BLOSSOM.\nINSTEAD OF THE CRADLE OF\nBERALD R.FORD VIBRARY\nCIVILIZATION BECOMING ITS GRAVE, LET THE\n-20-\nCRADLE OF CIVILIZATION GIVE RISE TO TWO\nPEOPLES, ARAB AND JEWISH, EACH IN THEIR\nOWN COUNTRIES, WITH COMMERCE AND TRAVEL\nFLOWING ACROSS PEACEFUL BORDERS, AND WITH\nA NEW SENSE OF MUTUAL RESPECT IN KEEPING\nWITH OUR DREAM OF THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN\nUNDER THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD.\nI WANT TO ADD A SPECIAL AND VERY\nPERSONAL WORD TO THIS AUDIENCE. MANY OF\nYOU HAVE DEVOTED YOUR LIVES TO THE\nISRAELI CAUSE. YOU HAVE SEEN IN ISRAEL A\nREDEMPTION OF FREEDOM AND HUMAN DIGNITY,\nTHE REBIRTH OF A PEOPLE. BUT WE ARE NOW\nWITNESSING PAINFUL DAYS, TRAGIC DAYS, IN\nWHICH THE POWERS AND POLITICAL TRENDS AND\nPRESSURES OF THE WORLD APPEAR TO BE\nCONVERGING ON THE MIDDLE EAST.\nISRAEL WAS REBORN IN BLOOD AND\nFIRE. ISRAEL IS TODAY STRUGGLING IN AN\nORDEAL OF BLOOD AND FIRE. BUT THIS TIME\n-21-\nIT IS DIFFERENT. THE STATE OF ISRAEL HAS\nPROVED ITS METTLE. ISRAEL IS A NATION\nAMONG THE NATIONS.\nYOU CAN TAKE PRIDE, AS DEDICATED\nSUPPORTERS OF ISRAEL, IN THE NATION YOU\nHAVE HELPED BUILD. BUT THE WATCHMAN OF\nISRAEL DOES NOT SLEEP.\nTRYING DAYS LIE AHEAD. YET, IN\nYOUR HEART OF HEARTS, YOU CAN DRAW FAITH\nAND SUSTENANCE AND REASSURANCE FROM ONE\nFACT: THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.\nTHIS IS. OUR COUNTRY AND WE, JEWS AND\nNON-JEWS, PEOPLES OF ALL PARTS OF THIS\nCOUNTRY, THE SILENT AMERICANS AND THE\nARTICULATE AMERICANS, WILL NOT LET ISRAEL\nDOWN.\n-- END --\nDestribution 10 copies Mr. Ford\nm office Copy\nREMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH.\nREPUBLICAN LEADER, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES\nBEFORE THE UNITED JEWISH APPEAL\nNEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK\nJUNE 8, 1970\nFOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY AT 10:30 a.m.\nThe reason for this meeting is obvious. This is a time for action. We\nhave heard enough rhetoric.\nChildren are dying in Israel. They are being killed by Soviet rockets in\nthe hands of Arabs who are emulating the Viet Cong and the Communists of North\nVietnam.\nWhat is my justification for stating that the Arab extremists are adopting\nViet Cong terrorist tactics? I call your attention to a recent visit to Hanoi by\na delegation representing the top leadership of the Al Fatah Arab guerrilla\nmovement. The Arabs were invited by Gen. Giap, the military leader of North\nVietnam.\nA text of the minutes of the meeting was subsequently published by the\nArabs and the North Vietnamese. Gen. Giap told the Arabs, \"We fight together;\"\nand he added, \"You are right to clear the ground of its Israeli forces and blow up\ntheir houses and liquidate their presence.\" That was Hanoi's advice to the Arabs.\nThe Hanoi meeting was followed by the return of the Arab guerrilla leaders\nto the Middle East and some very terrible events. A school bus was ambushed.\nRockets were fired into school houses. Many children were killed. Others lay\nmaimed in hospitals.\nGen. Giap equated the Israelis with the Americans. He wanted total defeat\nimposed upon both. He predicted that \"the Palestinian revolution will triumph\nlike the Vietnamese revolution.\"\nArafat, the leader of the rocketeers who aim at Israeli school houses, told\nhis Vietnamese Communist hosts that the Arabs had \"benefitted a great deal from\nthe tactics of Chairman Ho Chi Minh.\"\nGen. Giap voiced pleasure that Arab \"guerrilla warfare is developing and\nyou have scored big victories.\"\nGen Giap is praised by a few of our American university professors for his\nso-called heroism. He now tells the Arabs that \"any method which can achieve your\n(more)\n-2-\nvictory is a good method. % \"We fight with military means. This is the main form\nof fighting, but simultaneously we fight by political means.\" He added that\n\"Chairman Ho Chi Minh has said: 'We must depend first on our own power and then on\nthe support and the backing of the progressive forces in the world. 111\nGen. Giap went on to express unqualified admiration for \"the fighting spirit\nof the Palestinian people and the Arab people, and our unreserved support for your\nstruggle. He voiced confidence that the Arabs would destroy Israel in the\nso-called \"liberation struggle.\nI could not help but think of the killing of Israeli children when the\nPresident announced the capture of so much enemy weaponry in Cambodia. I could not\nhelp but think that a Russian-made or Chinese-made rocket or mine or mortar or\nartillery piece captured by our troops diminishes the stockpiles from which the\nCommunists supply the radical Arab forces. When Russia and China dig into their\narms stockpiles to make up Hanoi's weapon losses, they obviously will have fewer\nnew arms to send to the Arabs. If the life of a single Israeli child is spared,\nhowever indirectly, by the impact we have had upon Communist arms stockpiles and\nreplacement shipments to various terrorist forces of the world, I would be even\nmore appreciative of the heroism of our brave soldiers.\nLet me say a word about the war in Vietnam and the pacifist-isolationist\nsentiment in our nation today. There is a grave danger inherent in the amendments\npending before the Senate to restrict the ability of our Chief Executive to respond\nto worldwide Communist threats and involvements. There are some who would bar the\nuse of American forces unless there is a direct enemy attack on American units or\nthe territory of the United States.\nPossible aggressors would be assured, under some new concepts advanced in\nCongress -- assured that the United States would never use its forces under specified\ncircumstances and that we would be inhibited, restricted, and restrained. I have\nnot heard of the Soviet Union enacting any such amendments. I have heard of them\npushing dangerously into the Middle East and landing missile troops and air\nsquadrons in Egypt.\nWe must not circumscribe the diplomatic influence of the President in seeking\nto deter aggression. Let us consider the Soviet military movement into Egypt, the\nactual presence of combat-ready Russian forces on the continent of Africa, a new\n\"Afrika Corps\" only a quarter-century after the defeat of the German Nazis of\nRommel in North Africa. There are grim implications for Israel. But I also discern\na situation vitally affecting the national security of the United States.\n(more)\n-3-\nJust as we have not written off Israel, we have not written off the Middle\nEast. Even though we are still involved in Southeast Asia, even though an\nanti-military mood exists at home, even though there is division among our people --\nlet the Communists not miscalculate. Let them not push us too hard.\nThe Communists may learn that they have neither isolated nor neutralized\nthe United States. In the Middle East, by giving military support to the Arab\ncause, Moscow is seeking to replace the United States as the dominant power in the\nMediterranean. Moscow has demanded that the United States Sixth Fleet leave the\nMediterranean. We should immediately move to strengthen our fleet. That is the\nbest answer.\nThe Soviet game in Egypt far transcends the Arab-Israeli conflict. The\nRussians are fishing in those troubled waters to undermine the southern flank of\nNATO, dominate the Mediterranean, and spread Communist influence from the Indian\nOcean to the South Atlantic.\nLet me state one conviction very simply: I firmly believe that the fate of\nIsrael is linked with the national security of the United States.\nAmericans of Jewish faith feel very personal and human and understandable\nties with the State of Israel. But millions of other Americans also can identify\nwith the Israelis and with their dedication to freedom and survival as a nation.\nThere are some very instructive lessons that Americans of all faiths could learn\nfrom the Israelis.\nBut I did not come here today to compliment the Israelis. Their courage\nprovides its own commentary. I came to assure you that actions are being taken.\nI am free to speak only of my own initiative and my own action. Today I\ncan disclose that on June 2 I sent a personal letter to President Nixon.\nI stated that in view of the dangerous and aggressive escalation of the crisis\napparent in the intrusion of Soviet combat pilots and missile battalions into Egypt,\na new sense of urgency has developed among members of the House of Representatives\nregarding the necessity for a measured American response.\nIt was my own belief, shared by a majority of my colleagues, that the time\nhad come for the United States to approve the sale of the additional Phantom and\nSkyhawk aircraft sought by Israel.\nThe failure to provide these jets may have disastrous results. My letter\npointed out that the Soviet Union has ignored our restraint and increased its own\ninvolvement in a volatile situation.\n(more)\n-4-\nWe must redress the balance by providing the jets to Israel. This would\nreassure our friends and prevent our enemies from miscalculating.\nIf we display inhibition in the face of Soviet military penetration, the\nRussians will press more vigorously their drive to penetrate the Middle East and\nMediterranean. We could anticipate greater Arab belligerence through increased\ncommitment of conventional and guerrilla forces.\nThe President is aware that an intolerable situation will develop if the\nSoviet Air Force provides Egypt with a privileged sanctuary from which to sally\nforth across the Suez Canal with commando raids, air raids, artillery barrages,\nand amphibious attacks. Soviet planes and pilots intruding on the United Nations\ncease fire zone along the Suez Canal add a dangerous new dimension to the Middle\nEast conflict.\nThere are compelling reasons to bolster Israel in such manner as to make\nthe Russians think twice before tackling the valiant Israeli air force. I also\nam convinced there is danger of a mood of desperation in Israel, born of a sense\nof abandonment, that might lead the Israelis to launch pre-emptive operations that\ncould bring about open hostilities with Soviet military forces.\nThe President is aware that, unlike some other nations menaced by Communism,\nIsrael has not asked for American manpower. If the Israelis are willing to stand\nup for their own survival, we must at least provide the necessary arms.\nIt was my feeling that assurance of continuity in the supply of Phantom\njets and other arms to Israel was in keeping with the President's courageous public\nremarks of April 30 on the Cambodian situation. The chips are down in the Middle\nEast. We must act to retain credibility among friends and foes. We must deter the\nSoviet Union from its new brinkmanship which seeks to exploit our present concerns\nin Southeast Asia. We must let the Russians know that neo-isolationism and\npacificism are not yet such among Americans that Communism has our invitation to\nsubjugate the free world.\nIt would be a very timely move for the President not only to approve the\npending arms list for Israel but also to send a special commission, made up of\nappropriate persons, to the Middle East to assess the developing danger created by\nthe Soviet escalation. The commission should include Government officials, members\nof Congress, and persons from outside the Government. It would suggest to the\nRussians the gravity of our concern.\nIsraeli Defense Minister Dayan recently announced that Israel had halted\ndeep penetration raids into Egypt to avoid possible clashes with Soviet forces.\n(more)\n-5-\nHe asserted readiness to re-establish an unconditional and unlimited cease-fire.\nThe only response from the Arabs has been a drastic increase in attacks as\nthe Russians screen Egypt with a protective umbrella. The commitment of Russian\nmilitary forces cannot be justified on grounds of defense of Egypt. Russian\ninvolvement is linked with the mounting Arab campaign to liquidate Israel. The\ncommitment of Russian military forces is a negation of Soviet pretensions to\npeace-making. Pilots, troops, and missiles are no way to reduce tensions!\nOur government announced on March 23 that additional jet sales to Israel\nwould be temporarily halted. The State Department indicated that this restraint\nwas really a signal to Moscow that the United States wanted to cool down the arms\nrace; we were taking the first step so that the Russians would know our peaceful\nintentions and similarly exercise restraint. We are now well aware of the Soviet\nresponse.\nWe are trying to end one war under conditions of peace with honor. Moscow\nis cynically escalating another war, introducing new elements and bringing\nterrible risks of expansion of an already tragic conflict.\nWe cannot permit a situation in which the Russians would cover by their own\nmilitary forces the unrelenting war of attrition by the Arabs against Israel. The\nRussian military power play is a matter of grave concern. I use the words \"grave\nconcern\" with careful deliberation. President Nixon stated on February 18 that\n\"the United States would view any effort by the Soviet Union to seek predominance\nin the Middle East as a matter of grave concern.\" He warned against the\nexploitation of a local conflict by an outside power for its own advantage. He\npledged arms to friendly states as the need arises. We delayed action to obtain\na first-hand explanation from the Russians of their intentions in Egypt. The\nexplanation was unsatisfactory.\nThe so-called peace movements of the world are still crying hysterically\nfor U.S. withdrawal from Indo-China although we are already in the process of\nwithdrawal. I have not yet heard these movements say anything about the withdrawal\nof Soviet troops from the Arab-Israeli battle front. Since when are Russian troops\npurely defensive while Americans are purely aggressive?\nI place great emphasis on the need for fast action to strengthen the Israeli\nair force. A strong airpower factor will allow Israel to maintain that nation's\ndefense without the need for involvement of American personnel.\nIf we allow the Soviet Union, through brutal application of its own military\nforces, to crush Israel, it would mean the end of hope for all free nations of the\n(more)\n-6-\nMediterranean and even Western Europe. It would mean the end of the United States\nas a symbol of freedom.\nIsrael is an asset to America, not a liability. The Russian target today\nis the aircraft of Israel. Tomorrow the target of the new Soviet Egyptian air bases\nmay be the U.S. 6th Fleet. Moscow is converting Egypt into an unsinkable aircraft\ncarrier.\nPresident Nixon understands the need to preserve freedom in the Middle East.\nHe pointed out that Israel's enemies can afford to fight a war and lose. They can\ncome back to fight again. But Israel cannot afford to lose even once. President\nNixon said, \"America knows that, and America is determined that Israel is here\nin the family of nations to stay.\"\nThe real interests of Arabs and Israelis, of Russians and Americans, require\npeaceful coexistence. The United States is committed to peaceful and honorable\ndealings with all men, at home and abroad. We are doing everything we can as\nmen of conscience and integrity, to promote peace.\nAnd in Israel, that land where the prophets dreamed that nation should not\nlift up sword against nation, let there be peace.\nFor Israel, a nation of people whose suffering merits a life more creative\nthan perpetual service in an armed camp, let there be peace. For the Arabs,\nwhose poverty and frustration require schools and hospitals and a decent life\nrather than the endless purchase of jets and guns, let there be peace.\nIsrael could be a light unto the nations of that region if the Arabs would\naccept fellow human beings of the Jewish faith as entitled to nationhood as any\nother people. The genius and productivity of the Israelis could help others make\ntheir deserts blossom.\nInstead of the cradle of civilization becoming its grave, let the cradle of\ncivilization give rise to two peoples, Arab and Jewish, each in their own countries,\nwith commerce and travel flowing across peaceful borders, and with a new sense of\nmutual respect in keeping with our dream of the brotherhood of man under the\nfatherhood of God.\nI want to add a special and very personal word to this audience. Many of\nyou have devoted your lives to the Israeli cause. You have seen in Israel a\nredemption of freedom and human dignity, the rebirth of a people. But we are now\nwitnessing painful days, tragic days, in which the powers and political trends\nand pressures of the world appear to be converging on the Middle East.\n(more)\n-7-\nIsrael was reborn in blood and fire. Israel is today struggling in an ordeal\nof blood and fire. But this time it is different. The State of Israel has proved\nits mettle. Israel is a nation among the nations.\nYou can take pride, as dedicated supporters of Israel, in the nation you\nhave helped build. But the watchman of Israel does not sleep.\nTrying days lie ahead. Yet, in your heart of hearts, you can draw faith\nand sustenance and reassurance from one fact: this is the United States of\nAmerica. This is our country and we, Jews and non-Jews, peoples of all parts of\nthis country, the silent Americans and the articulate Americans, will not let\nIsrael down.\n# # #\noffice Capy\nREMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH.\nREPUBLICAN LEADER, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES\nBEFORE THE UNITED JEWISH APPEAL\nNEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK\nJUNE 8, 1970\nFOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY AT 10:30 a.m.\nThe reason for this meeting is obvious. This is a time for action. We\nhave heard enough rhetoric.\nChildren are dying in Israel. They are being killed by Soviet rockets in\nthe hands of Arabs who are emulating the Viet Cong and the Communists of North\nVietnam.\nWhat is my justification for stating that the Arab extremists are adopting\nViet Cong terrorist tactics? I call your attention to a recent visit to Hanoi by\na delegation representing the top leadership of the Al Fatah Arab guerrilla\nmovement. The Arabs were invited by Gen. Giap, the military leader of North\nVietnam.\nA text of the minutes of the meeting was subsequently published by the\nArabs and the North Vietnamese. Gen. Giap told the Arabs, \"We fight together;\"\nand he added, \"You are right to clear the ground of its Israeli forces and blow up\ntheir houses and liquidate their presence.\" That was Hanoi's advice to the Arabs.\nThe Hanoi meeting was followed by the return of the Arab guerrilla leaders\nto the Middle East and some very terrible events. A school bus was ambushed.\nRockets were fired into school houses. Many children were killed. Others lay\nmaimed in hospitals.\nGen. Giap equated the Israelis with the Americans. He wanted total defeat\nimposed upon both. He predicted that \"the Palestinian revolution will triumph\nlike the Vietnamese revolution.\"\nArafat, the leader of the rocketeers who aim at Israeli school houses, told\nhis Vietnamese Communist hosts that the Arabs had \"benefitted a great deal from\nthe tactics of Chairman Ho Chi Minh.\"\nGen. Giap voiced pleasure that Arab \"guerrilla warfare is developing and\nyou have scored big victories.\"\nGen Giap is praised by a few of our American university professors for his\nso-called heroism. He now tells the Arabs that \"any method which can achieve your\n(more)\n-2-\nvictory is a good method. \"We fight with military means. This is the main form\nof fighting, but simultaneously we fight by political means.\" He added that\n\"Chairman Ho Chi Minh has said: 'We must depend first on our own power and then on\nthe support and the backing of the progressive forces in the world. \"\nGen. Giap went on to express unqualified admiration for \"the fighting spirit\nof the Palestinian people and the Arab people, and our unreserved support for your\nstruggle.' He voiced confidence that the Arabs would destroy Israel in the\nso-called \"liberation struggle.'\nI could not help but think of the killing of Israeli children when the\nPresident announced the capture of so much enemy weaponry in Cambodia. I could not\nhelp but think that a Russian-made or Chinese-made rocket or mine or mortar or\nartillery piece captured by our troops diminishes the stockpiles from which the\nCommunists supply the radical Arab forces. When Russia and China dig into their\narms stockpiles to make up Hanoi's weapon losses, they obviously will have fewer\nnew arms to send to the Arabs. If the life of a single Israeli child is spared,\nhowever indirectly, by the impact we have had upon Communist arms stockpiles and\nreplacement shipments to various terrorist forces of the world, I would be even\nmore appreciative of the heroism of our brave soldiers.\nLet me say a word about the war in Vietnam and the pacifist-isolationist\nsentiment in our nation today. There is a grave danger inherent in the amendments\npending before the Senate to restrict the ability of our Chief Executive to respond\nto worldwide Communist threats and involvements. There are some who would bar the\nuse of American forces unless there is a direct enemy attack on American units or\nthe territory of the United States.\nPossible aggressors would be assured, under some new concepts advanced in\nCongress -- assured that the United States would never use its forces under specified\ncircumstances and that we would be inhibited, restricted, and restrained. I have\nnot heard of the Soviet Union enacting any such amendments. I have heard of them\npushing dangerously into the Middle East and landing missile troops and air\nsquadrons in Egypt.\nWe must not circumscribe the diplomatic influence of the President in seeking\nto deter aggression. Let us consider the Soviet military movement into Egypt, the\nactual presence of combat-ready Russian forces on the continent of Africa, a new\n\"Afrika Corps\" only a quarter-century after the defeat of the German Nazis of\nRommel in North Africa. There are grim implications for Israel. But I also discern\na situation vitally affecting the national security of the United States.\n(more)\n-3-\nJust as we have not written off Israel, we have not written off the Middle\nEast. Even though we are still involved in Southeast Asia, even though an\nanti-military mood exists at home, even though there is division among our people ---\nlet the Communists not miscalculate. Let them not push us too hard.\nThe Communists may learn that they have neither isolated nor neutralized\nthe United States. In the Middle East, by giving military support to the Arab\ncause, Moscow is seeking to replace the United States as the dominant power in the\nMediterranean. Moscow has demanded that the United States Sixth Fleet leave the\nMediterranean. We should immediately move to strengthen our fleet. That is the\nbest answer.\nThe Soviet game in Egypt far transcends the Arab-Israeli conflict. The\nRussians are fishing in those troubled waters to undermine the southern flank of\nNATO, dominate the Mediterranean, and spread Communist influence from the Indian\nOcean to the South Atlantic.\nLet me state one conviction very simply: I firmly believe that the fate of\nIsrael is linked with the national security of the United States.\nAmericans of Jewish faith feel very personal and human and understandable\nties with the State of Israel. But millions of other Americans also can identify\nwith the Israelis and with their dedication to freedom and survival as a nation.\nThere are some very instructive lessons that Americans of all faiths could learn\nfrom the Israelis.\nBut I did not come here today to compliment the Israelis. Their courage\nprovides its own commentary. I came to assure you that actions are being taken.\nI am free to speak only of my own initiative and my own action. Today I\ncan disclose that on June 2 I sent a personal letter to President Nixon.\nI stated that in view of the dangerous and aggressive escalation of the crisis\napparent in the intrusion of Soviet combat pilots and missile battalions into Egypt,\na new sense of urgency has developed among members of the House of Representatives\nregarding the necessity for a measured American response.\nIt was my own belief, shared by a majority of my colleagues, that the time\nhad come for the United States to approve the sale of the additional Phantom and\nSkyhawk aircraft sought by Israel.\nThe failure to provide these jets may have disastrous results. My letter\npointed out that the Soviet Union has ignored our restraint and increased its own\ninvolvement in a volatile situation.\n(more)\n-4-\nWe must redress the balance by providing the jets to Israel. This would\nreassure our friends and prevent our enemies from miscalculating.\nIf we display inhibition in the face of Soviet military penetration, the\nRussians will press more vigorously their drive to penetrate the Middle East and\nMediterranean. We could anticipate greater Arab belligerence through increased\ncommitment of conventional and guerrilla forces.\nThe President is aware that an intolerable situation will develop if the\nSoviet Air Force provides Egypt with a privileged sanctuary from which to sally\nforth across the Suez Canal with commando raids, air raids, artillery barrages,\nand amphibious attacks. Soviet planes and pilots intruding on the United Nations\ncease fire zone along the Suez Canal add a dangerous new dimension to the Middle\nEast conflict.\nThere are compelling reasons to bolster Israel in such manner as to make\nthe Russians think twice before tackling the valiant Israeli air force. I also\nam convinced there is danger of a mood of desperation in Israel, born of a sense\nof abandonment, that might lead the Israelis to launch pre-emptive operations that\ncould bring about open hostilities with Soviet military forces.\nThe President is aware that, unlike some other nations menaced by Communism,\nIsrael has not asked for American manpower. If the Israelis are willing to stand\nup for their own survival, we must at least provide the necessary arms.\nIt was my feeling that assurance of continuity in the supply of Phantom\njets and other arms to Israel was in keeping with the President's courageous public\nremarks of April 30 on the Cambodian situation. The chips are down in the Middle\nEast. We must act to retain credibility among friends and foes. We must deter the\nSoviet Union from its new brinkmanship which seeks to exploit our present concerns\nin Southeast Asia. We must let the Russians know that neo-isolationism and\npacificism are not yet such among Americans that Communism has our invitation to\nsubjugate the free world.\nIt would be a very timely move for the President not only to approve the\npending arms list for Israel but also to send a special commission, made up of\nappropriate persons, to the Middle East to assess the developing danger created by\nthe Soviet escalation. The commission should include Government officials, members\nof Congress, and persons from outside the Government. It would suggest to the\nRussians the gravity of our concern.\nIsraeli Defense Minister Dayan recently announced that Israel had halted\ndeep penetration raids into Egypt to avoid possible clashes with Soviet forces.\n(more)\n-5-\nHe asserted readiness to re-establish an unconditional and unlimited cease-fire.\nThe only response from the Arabs has been a drastic increase in attacks as\nthe Russians screen Egypt with a protective umbrella. The commitment of Russian\nmilitary forces cannot be justified on grounds of defense of Egypt. Russian\ninvolvement is linked with the mounting Arab campaign to liquidate Israel. The\ncommitment of Russian military forces is a negation of Soviet pretensions to\npeace-making. Pilots, troops, and missiles are no way to reduce tensions!\nOur government announced on March 23 that additional jet sales to Israel\nwould be temporarily halted. The State Department indicated that this restraint\nwas really a signal to Moscow that the United States wanted to cool down the arms\nrace; we were taking the first step so that the Russians would know our peaceful\nintentions and similarly exercise restraint. We are now well aware of the Soviet\nresponse.\nWe are trying to end one war under conditions of peace with honor. Moscow\nis cynically escalating another war, introducing new elements and bringing\nterrible risks of expansion of an already tragic conflict.\nWe cannot permit a situation in which the Russians would cover by their own\nmilitary forces the unrelenting war of attrition by the Arabs against Israel. The\nRussian military power play is a matter of grave concern. I use the words \"grave\nconcern\" with careful deliberation. President Nixon stated on February 18 that\n\"the United States would view any effort by the Soviet Union to seek predominance\nin the Middle East as a matter of grave concern.\" He warned against the\nexploitation of a local conflict by an outside power for its own advantage. He\npledged arms to friendly states as the need arises. We delayed action to obtain\na first-hand explanation from the Russians of their intentions in Egypt. The\nexplanation was unsatisfactory.\nThe so-called peace movements of the world are still crying hysterically\nfor U.S. withdrawal from Indo-China although we are already in the process of\nwithdrawal. I have not yet heard these movements say anything about the withdrawal\nof Soviet troops from the Arab-Israeli battle front. Since when are Russian troops\npurely defensive while Americans are purely aggressive?\nI place great emphasis on the need for fast action to strengthen the Israeli\nair force. A strong airpower factor will allow Israel to maintain that nation's\ndefense without the need for involvement of American personnel.\nIf we allow the Soviet Union, through brutal application of its own military\nforces, to crush Israel, it would mean the end of hope for all free nations of the\n(more)\n-6-\nMediterranean and even Western Europe. It would mean the end of the United States\nas a symbol of freedom.\nIsrael is an asset to America, not a liability. The Russian target today\nis the aircraft of Israel. Tomorrow the target of the new Soviet Egyptian air bases\nmay be the U.S. 6th Fleet. Moscow is converting Egypt into an unsinkable aircraft\ncarrier.\nPresident Nixon understands the need to preserve freedom in the Middle East.\nHe pointed out that Israel's enemies can afford to fight a war and lose. They can\ncome back to fight again. But Israel cannot afford to lose even once. President\nNixon said, \"America knows that, and America is determined that Israel is here\nin the family of nations to stay.\"\nThe real interests of Arabs and Israelis, of Russians and Americans, require\npeaceful coexistence. The United States is committed to peaceful and honorable\ndealings with all men, at home and abroad. We are doing everything we can as\nmen of conscience and integrity, to promote peace.\nAnd in Israel, that land where the prophets dreamed that nation should not\nlift up sword against nation, let there be peace.\nFor Israel, a nation of people whose suffering merits a life more creative\nthan perpetual service in an armed camp, let there be peace. For the Arabs,\nwhose poverty and frustration require schools and hospitals and a decent life\nrather than the endless purchase of jets and guns, let there be peace.\nIsrael could be a light unto the nations of that region if the Arabs would\naccept fellow human beings of the Jewish faith as entitled to nationhood as any\nother people. The genius and productivity of the Israelis could help others make\ntheir deserts blossom.\nInstead of the cradle of civilization becoming its grave, let the cradle of\ncivilization give rise to two peoples, Arab and Jewish, each in their own countries,\nwith commerce and travel flowing across peaceful borders, and with a new sense of\nmutual respect in keeping with our dream of the brotherhood of man under the\nfatherhood of God.\nI want to add a special and very personal word to this audience. Many of\nyou have devoted your lives to the Israeli cause. You have seen in Israel a\nredemption of freedom and human dignity, the rebirth of a people. But we are now\nwitnessing painful days, tragic days, in which the powers and political trends\nand pressures of the world appear to be converging on the Middle East.\n(more)\n-7-\nIsrael was reborn in blood and fire. Israel is today struggling in an ordeal\nof blood and fire. But this time it is different. The State of Israel has proved\nits mettle. Israel is a nation among the nations.\nYou can take pride, as dedicated supporters of Israel, in the nation you\nhave helped build. But the watchman of Israel does not sleep.\nTrying days lie ahead. Yet, in your heart of hearts, you can draw faith\nand sustenance and reassurance from one fact: this is the United States of\nAmerica. This is our country and we, Jews and non-Jews, peoples of all parts of\nthis country, the silent Americans and the articulate Americans, will not let\nIsrael down.\n###"
}