Israel regrets plane deal

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 8

Israel regrets plane deal

NZPA-Reuter Jerusalem

Israel expressed regret yesterday at the United States Senate’s approval for the sale of radar planes and other military equipment to Saudi Arabia and said the Jewish State faced a new and grave danger.

But the tone of the Government statement read out by the Prime Minister (Mr Menachem Begin) was com-, paratively low-key, possibly some diplomats said, in an effort to repair any damage done to United States-Israeli relations. It contained little of the fervour which characterised earlier Israeli declarations condemning the proposal to sell airborne warning and control system aircraft and air attack equipment to the Saudis. It said Saudi Arabia “Is in a state of war with Israel, rejects the Camp David accords, and finances terror in the region.”

“The Government reiterates that a new and serious danger now faces Israel . . . We will have to overcome this threat."

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, paid a warm tribute to the Reagan Administration for beating the Senate opposition to the sale of the radar planes and said the aircraft would boost stability in the Gulf. The Defence Minister (Prince Sultan) said in a prepared statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency that Senate approval of the sale was "a victory for the policy of wisdom, moderation, and reason followed by Saudi Arabia.” Prince Sultan added that approval of the deal was also “a victory for the American national interest and a declaration of the independence of American political decisions in the face of enormous pressure.”

But Saudi Arabia made it clear that it still opposes the United States-sponsored peace accords • between Egypt and Israel.

The Information Minister (Dr Mohammed Abdo Yamani) said in a statement quoted by Saudi State radio that his Government had repeatedly rejected any Middle East peace settlement that did not give the Palestinians an Independent State.

In Washington, the State Department said that President Reagan had sent a message to King Khalid of Saudi Arabia emphasising the need for United StatesSaudi co-operation on peace and security in the Middle East.

A department spokesman, Dean Fischer, said Mr Reagan had also sent a message to Israel leaders promising continued military and technical aid.

Mr Reagan told reporters

the 52-48 vote was a victory for peace in the Middle East. He also said the Saudis had apparently indicated a willingness to recognise Israel in an eight-point peace plan which they offered in August. The United States has said it is unwilling to accept parts of that plan. But “the most significant part is the fact that they recognised Israel as a nation to be negotiated with,” the President said when questioned briefly by reporters. He did not elaborate, but apparently meant part of the plan which said that all States in the Middle East should have the right to live in peace.

Administration officials, basking in their Senate victory, emphasised yesterday that the United States would continue to make sure Israel owns the dominant military machine in the Middle East.