June 10, 1981
Telegram from Washington Embassy to Foreign Office
[Translator’s note: all words in double quotes “” are words used in English in the original Hebrew document]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs- Communications Division
Top Secret
Date: 100681 [June 10th 1981]
Top Secret/ Immediate
For the recipient alone.
Richard Strauss obtained the following information about the position paper the Pentagon put together for Weinberger ahead of the National Security Council meeting today discussing the bombing of the Iraqi reactor. The paper includes the following points:
1. Israel is not at liberty to dictate the US’s policy.
2. A list of the possible US responses against Israel:
a. Cutting economic aid to Israel
b. Halting or suspending sale of military equipment to Israel
c. Demanding international oversite of Dimona
d. Demanding Israel sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty
e. Condemning Israel at the UN
f. Compensating Iraq
3. The memo states that it is preferable for the US to enter into a struggle with Israel during the first year of the President’s term.
4. The actions of the [Israeli] air force hurt the strategic interests of the US and aid the USSR in improving its standing in the region.
Ben-Zur
The Israeli embassy in Washington learned from Haig as well as from another contact that Secretary of Defense Weinberger supports a tough approach to Israel, including a a UNSC resolution that would demand Israel to open the Israeli nuclear reactor at Dimona for inspection and a call for Israel to join the NPT.
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