In an airport press conference, the Prime Minister discussed in general terms his talks with the President and other administration officials, as well as Congressional leaders, the media and American Jewish leadership. He focussed on the strategic cooperation agreement. Texts of his opening statement and press conference follow:
Mr. Begin: Ladies and gentlemen of the press, a happy new year to all of you. The Israeli delegation, which was composed of the Foreign Minister, the Defense Minister, the Interior Minister and myself, and our faithful and able assistants, was received with the utmost hospitality by the President and his advisers during our stay in the United States, and especially in Washington. As we left U.S. airspace, I sent a cable of thanks from the plane to the President of the United States and Mrs. Reagan for the warm hospitality they accorded to all of us. We had a number of meetings during our stay, namely with the President of the United States and his advisers, with the Vice-President, two long sessions with the Secretary of State, (and) another meeting with the Secretary of the Treasury. The Defense Minister had a long meeting - personal meeting - with the Defense Secretary. We met the two committees on Foreign Affairs of both Houses of the Congress - the Senate and the House of Representatives - we met (with) a delegation of the black community - friends of Israel - a group of senators - friends of Israel - two Christian organizations friends of Israel - with Mrs. Kirkpatrick, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, together with our Ambassador, Yehuda Blum, with Mr. Kirkland, the leader of the American labor movement, the AFL-CIO, with the former Secretary of State, Mr. Vance and his wife, with the former Secretary of State, Dr. Kissinger, with Mrs. Emma Marcus, the widow of Colonel Marcus, who gave his life for our country in 1948, a delegation of invalids of our army, two meetings with the leadership of the Presidents' Conference of the Major American Jewish Organizations, and one in a plenary session of that famous organization, representative of the Jewish community. We held a meeting for the Bonds, for the United Jewish Appeal, and there was a special meeting for all Jewish organizations. There was a conference, very well-attended, of the Herut Movement. I visited at Plains, former President
Carter and his wife. We also had a "Meet the Press" conference on television, another interview early in the morning on television. We held a general press conference and a special press conference with the Israeli journalists. And just before we took off, the Secretary of State came to see me, and we had a private talk at Kennedy Airport. I understand there will be a meeting of the Knesset called by the opposition next Monday, to which of course I will report more details. In all those meetings, either private or public, we stressed that the arms deal with Saudi Arabia is a danger to Israel's security. We as citizens of Israel do not participate in the debate which is now going on between the two branches of the American government, the Executive and the Legislative - but as people responsible for the security of Israel, it is our right and duty to state the simple fact that this arms deal is a serious danger to the security of Israel. Now, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention, and I am prepared to hear your questions and do my best to answer, or to evade answers, and I will answer everybody in the language the question was put to me.
Q: I understand that your last minute meeting with Secretary of State Haig was a private one. But could you give us an indication if in fact it involved the sale of the "AWACS" to Saudi Arabia, as has been widely reported in the media?
A: The Secretary of State and I agreed that, for the moment, we will not publicize the contents of our talk.
Q: Do Israel and the U.S. share the same assessment of the essence of the strategic cooperation? Some Israelis are calling it a historic turning point, while some Americans consider it a more gradual process.
A: I don't know what you heard. Neither my colleagues nor myself ever used the word historic. But if someone is in love with history, there is no reason he shouldn't use that term. But it is a fact that we discussed this important issue ... the (U.S.) Secretary of Defense and the (Israeli) Minister of Defense have determined that they will continue their discussions, probably in November. An official communique was published...and it specifically talks about strategic cooperation between the two countries. The two Defense Ministers also decided between them that the possibility exists that they will sign in November a memorandum of understanding - if they reach agreement, of course. If the memorandum of understanding is written and signed, then you will all read it and learn whether this is a historic turning point, (etc.) ... because it will be made public.
Q: Is there any danger in the strategic cooperation regarding future Israeli security actions?
A: No, there is no such danger.
Q: You made a sharp distinction between activity in the realm of strategic cooperation and activity for Israel's defense.
A: Not so ... I made a distinction between two aspects. Defense of the State of Israel, when I said that this is our matter and responsibility. We never asked another country to send its soldiers to defend us or to endanger their lives for us. We know how to defend ourselves, we want peace and not war, but if we will be attacked, we will also know in the future how to defend our people and our country. As long as clear common interests exist regarding the whole region and its surrounding area in view of the simple fact that there is constant Soviet expansionism, more than at any time since the conclusion of the Second World War, and it is dangerous to all free peoples, and therefore we all must stand together and fight together. And for this came the idea of the strategic defense cooperation for this aim.
Q: Sir, upon your return from the U.S., the Alignment attacked your visit to Washington and said that there was abandonment of Israel's security interests. What is your reaction?
A: Maybe you'll read the papers today and learn the real situation. But the Alignment always attacks ... when there will be a Knesset debate, everything will be clarified.
Q: Mr. Prime Minister, in the talks with leaders of the American Administration, did you also reach a practical discussion of the question now of immediate concern, and that is the autonomy talks and the peace process.
A: Yes, we discussed the matter in detail with the Secretary of State.
Q: Did you discuss with the President the problems raised by the inclusion of Israel and Saudi Arabia in the same strategic alignment?
A: No. We announced strategic defense cooperation between our two countries, the United States and Israel.
Q: Is it true that a three-way summit conference will be held in Washington in order to overcome difficulties in the autonomy talks?
A: I read, I didn't hear of it.
Q: Would you be able to interpret for us the fact that a major conference is under way in Libya, I understand, between the states that seem to be sympathetic with the Soviet Union, including Syria, a delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and even of Iran. Could it be that the strategic cooperation agreement between the United States and Israel may be polarizing the Middle East?
A: I haven't yet read the press of today. I didn't read that item whilst in the United States. I can only say that any conference which takes place in Libya is no good. I will read what is the conference, who participates, and what is the aim they declare. I haven't read the title yet.
Q: On Israel Television a few days ago, it was reported quoting an American official that whilst there may not be any linkage between the Saudi Arabian arms deal and the strategic cooperation, there was, however, a relationship. Would you comment on this sir?
A: Well, I can't, because I don't know who was the spokesman, and I do not intend to go into any discussion with an anonymous spokesman.
Q: Mr. Prime Minister, I am sure you read the report in the "New York Times" which quoted a senior American official saying that if the AWACS deal, which you called a double deal in Washington, does not go through, the United States may have to revise its policy towards Israel too. What do you say about that?
A: First of all, I would like to say that we used the word double-deal in the Hebrew meaning, because it combines two parts: one - the enhancing of the offensive power of the F-15, and the other - the AWACS. And there is no other meaning of that term at all. And again, I am asked the same question. I just am not in a position to answer ' that. We spoke on both issues, we made clear our positions on both issues, and then we shall wait.
Q: Did you get the impression, Mr. Prime Minister, in your talks with President Reagan and other administration officials, that this matter and Israel's known stand on it, is going to cause, or is causing, a confrontation with the American Administration?
A: No. There is no confrontation in my opinion. I really dealt with it at a public meeting, and I would like to repeat the comparison I made there. We are allies and friends, or friends and allies, as all of us used to say time and again. And we have a community of values and of interests. And this is decisive. We help each other, we will help each other as I believe in the future. Now between friends and allies sometimes there may be a difference of opinion. For instance: The President of the United States took a decision, if I may add my private opinion, respectfully, the right decision, to produce the neutron bomb as a defensive weapon ... nobody speaks about any confrontation between Holland or Denmark on the one hand, and the United States on the other hand. This is the same case. We are friends and allies. On this problem, we have a different opinion. We voiced it, all of us, as free men, as it should be.
Q: What was the most important achievement of your visit?
A: The visit itself...the gentleman wants to talk about accomplishments, you will say that I always come back optimistic ... Wait.
Q: Mr. Begin, could you perhaps look into the future, if possible, and tell us whether you see the strategic cooperation with the United States being expanded to some sort of Eastern Mediterranean Treaty Alliance, similar to that which exists between the allies in Europe?
A: No. A treaty alliance was not mentioned during our discussion at all. At this time, I would like to remind you of the fact that I was asked several years ago whether I would approve a treaty of mutual defense, treaties with the United States (have been) signed with many countries, and my reply was, our is a parliamentary government, I didn't yet consult my colleagues in the government. Therefore, I cannot speak on behalf of it. I can only speak on my own behalf. If the United States at any time should take the initiative and suggest such a treaty, I would recommend that the government accept it. But the initiative should come from the great power, not from the small country, lest the small country invites a refusal - and nobody is willing to court refusals. During this visit, that form of cooperation - a treaty, a written and signed treaty of mutual defense - was not mentioned, and therefore I didn't take the initiative to mention it.
Q: Do you think that this strategic cooperation could perhaps lead to such a treaty?
A: Well, anything may happen in the future. I already told you, we shall see what is going to happen in the future. A happy new year to all of you, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for your attention.