Joint Statement with Israeli Prime Minister
Eshkol
(June 2, 1964)
PRIME MINISTER Eshkol and President Johnson have completed
two days of discussions on matters of mutual interest and concern. Both
welcomed the opportunity presented by the Prime Minister's visit at
the invitation of the President for a full exchange of views.
The President presented the views of the United States
on various world problems, including those of the Near East. He emphasized
the strong desire of the United States for friendly relations with all
nations of the Near East, and its devotion to peace in the area and
to peaceful economic and social development of all countries in the
area. He congratulated Prime Minister Eshkol on the progress made by
Israel since 1948 in the economic, technical, social and cultural fields.
He noted the example provided by Israel in economic growth and human
development in conditions of freedom.
Prime Minister Eshkol expressed deep appreciation for
the consistent interest and sympathy shown by the United States and
for the generous economic assistance rendered by the U.S. Government
and the American people to Israel over the years. He was confident that
Israel's development would continue unabated towards the rapid achievement
of a self-sustaining economy. It was his deep conviction that peace
and the maintenance of the territorial integrity and national independence
of all countries in the Near East is of vital interest to the region
and to the world.
The President welcomed assurances of Israel's deep
concern, which the United States shares, for peace in the area. He reiterated
to Prime Minister Eshkol U.S. support for the territorial integrity
and political independence of all countries in the Near East and emphasized
the firm opposition of the United States to aggression and the use of
force or the threat of force against any country. In this connection,
both leaders expressed their concern at the diversion of vitally important
resources from development to armaments.
The two leaders declared their firm determination to
make every effort to increase the broad area of understanding which
already exists between Israel and the United States and agreed that
the Prime Minister's visit advanced this objective.
The agreement reached to undertake joint studies on
problems of desalting provided concrete evidence of the desire of the
United States to continue to assist Israel in its efforts to solve remaining
economic problems. Both countries view this as part of the world-wide
cooperative effort being undertaken to solve the problem of scarcity
of water and hope for rapid progress toward large-scale desalting in
Israel. The knowledge and experience obtained from the joint effort
will be available to all countries with water deficiencies.
In conclusion, the President and Prime Minister expressed
their conviction that their peoples shared common values and were dedicated
to the advancement of man, to individual freedom, and to human dignity.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |