Memorandum on Israeli Efforts To Get More
Planes After The Tank Deal
(June 16, 1965)
Komer does not want to
sell Israel planes. They have already made a good deal
with Israel on tanks and now Israel is pushing
for more.
224. Memorandum From Robert
W. Komer of the National Security Council
Staff to President Johnson/1/
Planes for Israel. Our Israeli
friends are typically pressing us to enrich
the secret arms deal as much as possible.
Since we've done even better than they originally
expected on tanks, they're now zeroing in
on aircraft.
When I was out there, they talked about an
old light bomber like the B-66, which they
thought they could buy for peanuts. We agreed
to help them get up to 24 "combat"
planes (not necessarily bombers) either in
Europe or here. Since then we've convinced
them that the B-66 is not available as surplus
so now they're asking for the F-4, our fanciest
current operational model./2/
The F-4 is (a) simply outside the spirit
of our understanding; (b) would cost them
a mint; and (c) would raise hob with the Arabs.
Rusk is very strongly opposed; he doesn't
even want to sell old planes.
This memo is to (a) inform you so you'll
be ready for any backdoor approaches; and
(b) ask you to let me say I've confirmed our
negative position at the highest level--hopefully
this will fob off further useless talk. We
can always take another look later. The alternative
is not to bring your name into this yet, but
I fear the Israelis won't look seriously in
Europe unless I can do so. I already have
Feldman on my neck.
Approve
Keep me out of this as yet/3/
R. W. Komer
/1/Source: Johnson Library,
National Security File, Country File, Israel,
Vol. IV. Secret. A note on the source text
states that the memorandum was received at
10 a.m.
/2/A June 10 letter from
Harman to Talbot states that Israel had been
unable to find suitable military aircraft
in Europe and was looking to the United States
for a plane such as the Phantom. (National
Archives and Records Administration, RG 59,
Central Files 1964-66, DEF 12-5 ISR)
/3/This option is checked.
/4/Bundy initialed below Komer's signature.
Sources: U.S.
Department of State |