Joint Statement Following Talks With Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin
(June 17, 1974)
THE PRESIDENT of the United States, Richard Nixon,
visited Israel June 16--17, 1974. This is the first visit ever to have
been paid by an American President to the State of Israel. It symbolizes
the unique relationship, the common heritage and the close and historic
ties that have long existed between the United States and Israel.
President Nixon and Prime Minister Rabin held extensive
and cordial talks on matters of mutual interest to the United States
and Israel and reviewed the excellent relations between their two countries.
They discussed in a spirit of mutual understanding the efforts of both
countries to achieve a just and lasting peace which will provide security
for all States in the area and the need to build a structure of peace
in the world. United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and members
of the Israeli Cabinet participated in these talks.
Prime Minister Rabin expressed Israel's appreciation
for the outstanding and effective role of the United States in the quest
for peace under the leadership of President Nixon assisted by the tireless
efforts of Secretary Kissinger and indicated Israel's intention to participate
in further negotiations with a view to achieving peace treaties with
its neighbors which will permit each State to pursue its legitimate
rights in dignity and security.
President Nixon and Prime Minister Rabin agreed that
peace and progress in the Middle East are essential if global peace
is to be assured. Peace will be achieved through a process of continuing
negotiations between the parties concerned as called for by U.N. Security
Council Resolution 338 of October 22, 1973.
The President and the Prime Minister agreed on the
necessity to work energetically to promote peace between Israel and
the Arab States. They agreed that States living in peace should conduct
their relationship in accordance with the purposes and principles of
the United Nations Charter, and the U.N. Declaration on Principles of
International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among
States which provides that every State has the duty to refrain from
organizing or encouraging the organization of irregular forces or armed
bands including mercenaries for incursion into the territory of another
State. They condemned acts of violence and terror causing the loss of
innocent human lives.
The President and the Prime Minister expressed their
great pleasure in the intimate cooperation which characterizes the warm
relationship between their two countries and peoples. They agreed to
do everything possible to broaden and deepen still further that relationship
in order to serve the interests of both countries and to further the
cause of peace.
President Nixon reiterated the commitment of the United
States to the long-term security of Israel and to the principle that
each State has the right to exist within secure borders and to pursue
its own legitimate interests in peace.
Prime Minister Rabin expressed his appreciation for
the U.S. military supplies to Israel during the October War and thereafter.
The President affirmed the continuing and long-term nature of the military
supply relationship between the two countries, and reiterated his view
that the strengthening of Israel's ability to defend itself is essential
in order to prevent further hostilities and to maintain conditions conducive
to progress towards peace. An Israeli Defense Ministry delegation will
soon come to Washington in order to work out the concrete details relating
to long-term military supplies.
President Nixon affirmed the strong continuing support
of the United States for Israel's economic development. Prime Minister
Rabin expressed the gratitude of Israel for the substantial help which
the United States has provided, particularly in recent years. The President
and Prime Minister agreed that future economic assistance from the United
States would continue and would be the subject of long-range planning
between their governments. The President affirmed that the United States,
in accordance with Congressional authorization, will continue to provide
substantial economic assistance for Israel at levels needed to assist
Israel to offset the heavy additional costs inherent in assuring Israel's
military capability for the maintenance of peace.
In the economic field, the President and the Prime
Minister noted with satisfaction the effective working relationship
between their governments at all levels and the depth of the relationship
between the economies of the two nations. They agreed to strengthen
and develop the framework of their bilateral relations. The primary
goal will be to establish a firmer and more clearly defined structure
of consultation and cooperation. Where appropriate, they will set up
special bi-national committees. Both sides recognize the importance
of investments in Israel by American companies, the transmission of
general know-how and marketing assistance, and cooperation of American
companies with Israeli counterparts on research and development. The
United States Government will encourage ventures by American enterprises
and private investment in Israel designed to increase Israel's economic
growth, including in the fields of industry, power, and tourism. They
agreed to begin immediately negotiations for concrete arrangements to
implement such policy including in the area of avoidance of double taxation.
The President and Prime Minister announce that their
two governments will negotiate an agreement on cooperation in the field
of nuclear energy, technology and the supply of fuel from the United
States under agreed safeguards. This agreement will in particular take
account of the intention of the Government of Israel to purchase power-reactors
from the United States. These will secure additional and alternative
sources of electricity for the rapidly developing Israel economy. As
an immediate step, Israel and the United States will in the current
month reach provisional agreement on the further sale of nuclear fuel
to Israel.
Prime Minister Rabin particularly expressed the view
that the supply of oil and other essential raw materials to Israel must
be assured on a continuous basis. President Nixon proposed that United
States and Israeli representatives meet soon in order to devise ways
of meeting this problem.
The President and the Prime Minister stressed as an
important mutual aim the further encouragement of the fruitful links
already existing between the two countries in the scientific and technical
field, including space research. Special emphasis will be put on exchanges
of scientists and the sponsorship of joint projects. With this end in
view they will explore means to widen the scope and substance of existing
agreements and activities including those pertaining to the Bi-National
Science Foundation.
In the area of water desalination the two countries
will expand their joint projects.
The President and the Prime Minister agreed to develop
further the cultural ties between the two countries through exchanges
of scholars, students, artists, exhibitions, mutual visits and musical
and other cultural events. In the near future, Israel will send to the
United States an archeological exhibition depicting the Land of the
Bible. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will visit the United States
on the occasion of the American bicentennial celebrations.
The President and the Prime Minister noted with gratification
the large number of tourists from their respective countries visiting
both the United States and Israel and affirmed that they would continue
their efforts to foster this movement. To this end, the two governments
will resume negotiations on an agreement granting landing rights to
the Israel national carrier in additional major cities in the continental
United States.
The President and the Prime Minister discussed the
plight of Jewish minorities in various countries in the spirit of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Prime Minister thanked the
President for his efforts in support of the right of free emigration
for all peoples without harassment, including members of Jewish minorities.
The President affirmed that the United States would continue to give
active support to these principles in all feasible ways.
The President was particularly pleased at the opportunity
to meet with former Prime Minister Golda Meir, whose courage, statesmanship,
patience and wisdom he greatly admires. The President expressed his
satisfaction at the constructive cooperation between Israel and the
United States under Prime Minister Meir's leadership which had led to
the conclusion of the agreements between Egypt and Israel and between
Israel and Syria respectively on the disengagement of their military
forces.
In departing, President and Mrs. Nixon expressed their
deep appreciation of the warm reception accorded to them in Israel and
their admiration for the achievements of the Israeli people. They were
deeply impressed by the manner in which the overwhelming problems of
integrating many hundreds of thousands of immigrants of many various
backgrounds and cultures were being successfully overcome. Convinced
of the determination of this valiant people to live in peace, the President
gave them renewed assurance of the support of the people of the United
States.
The Prime Minister and the President agreed that the
cordiality of Israel's reception of the President reflected the long
friendship between Israel and the United States and pledged their continued
energies to nurture and strengthen that friendship. To this end, the
President invited Prime Minister Rabin to pay an early visit to Washington.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |