In this statement the Prime Minister summed up the visit of President Nixon. He stressed the cordial atmosphere that prevailed during the talks and the long term effect of the joint projects agreed upon. A vote of no confidence in the government moved by the Likud and the National Religious Party in protest against the efforts of Foreign Minister Allon to minimize the dangers of the proposed sale of an American nuclear power plant to Egypt was defeated by a vote of 60 to 50. Text:
Members of the Knesset,
It is my pleasant duty today to present to the Knesset a report on the visit to Israel of the President of the United States and Mrs. Richard Nixon. The Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger, also participated in the visit, and the visitors were accompanied by an entourage which included some of their senior aides.
We were happy to welcome President Nixon in Israel. It was the first visit paid to the State of Israel by an American president for talks with the government of Israel. I am pleased to note that the visit was fruitful and successful. On the conclusion of the visit, a detailed joint Israeli-American statement was published, which has today been made available to the members of the Knesset. I request that it be attached to the "Knesset record".
This is not the first joint Israel-American statement. There have been a number of joint statements preceding it, but the statement before us is of the most fundamental significance, in that it deals with all the principal items in the totality of our relations with the United States. The statement concludes a visit by a U.S. president who has stood by Israel throughout his entire term of office especially during the difficult days of the Yom Kippur War. Standing this week at Ben-Gurion airport awaiting the landing of President Nixon's plane, I could not forget the picture from the time of the Yom Kippur War, when I stood at the same airport and watched the landing of the giant American planes which constituted the airlift - ordered by President Nixon.
We attach special significance to President Nixon's visit to Jerusalem, our eternal capital, and to the home of the State of Israel's legislature.
The impress of the special relations marking the links between Israel and the United States was clearly discernible throughout the visit.
Members of the Knesset,
In the talks with the President and the Secretary of State, we had a good opportunity to hear first-hand elucidations of American's global policy, of its efforts and moves in connection with peace in our region. It will not be superfluous to reiterate that President Nixon came to our region following marked successes gained by American policy, primarily the cease-fire and Separation-of-Forces agreements between Israel and Egypt and between Israel and Syria. We explained to the President of the United States Israel's objectives and requirements, and the principles of our policy of striving for true peace with the neighbouring countries. The discussions between the Israel delegation and the President and his aides will undoubtedly help to cement the mutual understanding between us on issues vital to Israel.
President Nixon repeatedly displayed interest in and understanding for the situation and needs of the State of Israel in the various spheres, primarily the security and economic ones. He repeatedly emphasized the United States' long-range commitment to Israel's security.
The President stressed the validity of the basic principle, according to which the state of Israel is entitled to secure borders: for a strong Israel, capable of defending herself, is a vital condition for the prevention of hostile acts and in the creation of conditions which make progress towards negotiations for peace possible. This is a firmly rooted principle of United States policy -hence its understanding of Israel's needs in everything involved in supplying her with fighting equipment.
President Nixon again confirmed the long-range continuity of contacts for military supplies between our two states: in other words, the continuity of the assistance extended to Israel by the United States where armaments are concerned. As agreed, a Defence Ministry delegation will leave for the U.S. in order to work out, jointly with the appropriate American authorities, all practical details of the promised military supplies. The delegation will be leaving for the U.S. within the next few days.
In equipping ourselves with arms and fighting equipment, Israel is undertaking an extremely heavy financial burden. The U.S. President showed understanding of this fact: Hence the importance of his promise that the U.S. will continue to grant Israel considerable economic assistance, of a size in keeping with the purchasing requirements, subject to the consent of the United States Congress.
In the economic sphere there has been progress in certain important matters.
It was agreed that economic aid to Israel constituted a subject for long-range planning. The need for the establishing of a systematic procedure of consultations and collaboration was recognized.
The economic field also includes numerous other subjects, such as: Investments by American companies, transfer of general know-how, marketing assistance, cooperation between American and Israeli companies in research and development, and so on.
Recently, we have been aware of shortages of raw materials and sources of energy. I therefore attach importance to the agreement we reached to search jointly for ways to guarantee Israel a continuous supply of oil and other vital raw material.
On the subject of confronting terrorist acts, we learned in our talks that the American President and the government of Israel both recognize the validity of the international principle, as determined in the international treaty, concerning the obligation of every country to refrain from organizing or encouraging irregular forces, or armed gangs, for the purpose of infiltrating the territory of another country. This subject was mentioned in the joint statement, which included a specific denunciation of acts of violence and terrorism. It is only natural that in the talks with the U.S. President we brought up the subject of liberating the members of the Jewish community in Syria, as well as the removal of obstacles from the path of the Jews of the Soviet Union who wish to immigrate to Israel. On this occasion we conveyed to the President of the United States our thanks for his political measures for the assistance of persecuted Jewish groups. The President emphasized that the United States will continue to give active support for the implementation of the fundamental principle of the right to free emigration, without harassment, for members of all nations, in accordance with the declaration of the rights of man, including the rights of our fellow-Jews.
President Nixon's visit to Israel took place in the same framework as his journey to four Arab countries. We are well aware - and the United States has informed us of the fact - that it intends to restore its ties with those Arab countries with which its relations have been disturbed in recent years. We also knew that the United States aims at economic cooperation with the Arab countries.
It is our hope that the Arab- countries will apply their efforts and resources to the real, constructive problems, which are problems of development and the progress of their peoples. The United States government has made it clear to us that there is no contradiction between its friendship with Israel and the restoration *of its relations with the Arab states. On the basis of this assumption, Israel has no reason to view these efforts of the United State with disfavour. It is a known fact that it is the American policy which has continuously strengthened Israel during President Nixon's presidency that has also been an important factor in the Arab countries' change of attitude in favour of the United States. We believe it is possible to utilize the Arab rapprochement with the United States to encourage moderate measures and to advance political steps towards a true peace accepted by us and agreed with us.
Members of the Knesset,
On the eve of President Nixon's visit to Israel, a matter that aroused anxiety amongst us suddenly came into prominence. I refer to the United States' decision to assist Egypt in the building of a nuclear power station for the generation of electricity.
A nuclear power station is a large enterprise, the construction, operation and maintenance of which necessitate the training of scientists, engineers and technicians. This involves the creation of an infrastructure of manpower which is liable to facilitate, from the technical and scientific points of view, the transition from the civilian to the military sphere.
I brought this concern to the attention of President Nixon and his colleagues during their visit to Israel. In their reply, the Americans emphasized that they intend to supply to Egypt a station for the generation of electricity such as they have supplied and are supplying to many countries, and that the United States will adopt every method of meticulous control to ensure that the station will serve only its declared purpose. The assumption is that this station will be in operation from the beginning of the eighties.
I have decided to request an authoritative opinion on the subject and in particular to investigate thoroughly the measure of danger involved. I have asked for the authoritative opinion of two experts in this field, Professor Israel Dostrovsky, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on atomic energy, and Mr. Shalhevet Freier, Director-General of the Atomic Energy Commission. When I receive the opinion in full, I shall convene the Atomic Energy Commission so that it may participate in the consideration of the subject. After I receive the opinion of out experts, we shall discuss our findings with the government of the United States.
In our talks with the President of the United States we clarified once again our persistent policy over the years on the subject of peace in the area. This policy, which also found expression in Israel's moves during the negotiations on the Separation-of-Forces agreements, still remains in force for the future. When we state that the Separation-of-Forces agreements constitute a first step towards peace, these are not mere words, but an expression of our serious purpose. Israel indeed desires progress from the separation of forces to peace, but we shall not grant advantages to others without the other side advancing towards the end of the conflict.
I believe that President Nixon and his colleagues were convinced of Israel's readiness to make progress towards peace, just as I am sure they understood even more clearly that Israel is convinced of the justice of her fundamental claims for defensible borders and that she will insist on them even in an argument with her friends.
After the talks with President Nixon, I can say that I feel that the friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel not only have not been weakened, but have even been strengthened.