Harman Argues Israel's Case for Air Defense Missiles
17 July 1962 to 19 August 1962
Secretary of State Dean Rusk's policy review opposed a special military alliance with Israel while considering stronger assurances and measures to reduce the likelihood of a preventive attack. [3]
Ambassador Avraham Harman led Israel's delegation to a Washington discussion of the regional military balance on 17 July 1962. The presentation emphasized vulnerability to attacks by aircraft flying at low altitude. Harman had already told Secretary of State Dean Rusk that assurances of American support offered insufficient reassurance without access to weapons and arrangements for military communication. [2] [1]
Washington weighed the request against its relations with Arab governments and its reluctance to become a major supplier of advanced weapons in the region. On 7 August, Rusk recommended offering Hawk missiles if efforts toward an arms limitation arrangement produced no serious prospect of agreement. [3]
President Kennedy approved making the Hawk available. His envoy Myer Feldman conveyed that decision to Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion on 19 August, explaining that delivery arrangements and payment terms still required negotiation. Israel also had a possible British offer to consider. [4]
Related Diplomats
Sources
- Department of State summary of Rusk's meeting with Harman
Document 278, telegram 766, section 1, Israel's Security, pp. 684-685
July 17 delegation in editorial note 1; Harman's security presentation
- Talbot's July 17 discussions with Harman
Document 6, telegram 79, opening and editorial note 1 establish the July 17 presentation and Harman's delegation leadership
Telegram 79 of July 18, 1962, opening and editorial note 1: the Israeli presentation and Harman-led delegation were on July 17.
July 17 delegation in editorial note 1; Harman's security presentation
- Rusk's review of United States policy toward Israel
Document 14, cover memorandum and enclosure decision A, Sale of Hawk Missile to Israel, pp. 27-32
FRUS 1961–1963, XVIII, document 14, August 7, 1962, cover and enclosure: military relationship, arms limitation, Tripartite Declaration
- Feldman's report of the Hawk offer to Ben-Gurion
Document 24, telegram 180, item 1 and payment question, pp. 64-66
Telegram 180, August 19, 1962 dateline and item 1: Feldman conveys the approved Hawk offer.
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Cite This Article
Harman Argues Israel's Case for Air Defense Missiles. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record bd0c1cd1ee174f52d3c6. https://chanceries.org/research/history/israel-hawk-negotiations-1962/