The United Press International Agency reported that Israeli Defense Minister Shimon Peres expressed on Wednesday that there has been a “clear disruption” in the shipment of weapons from the United States. He warned of the potential imposition of an embargo, while another government official stated that Washington is attempting to pressure Israel into taking a position that would further appease Arab countries in the negotiations.
Speaking to students at Tel Aviv University, Peres stated, “There is a clear disruption in the supply of weapons from the United States, and we should be concerned about the possibility that this disruption may lead to a ban.”
In Riyadh, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad, after successfully resolving their diplomatic differences, agreed to establish a high-level committee aimed at unifying their strategy concerning war and peace with Israel.
A statement released at the conclusion of the two-day summit, mediated by King Khalid, emphasized that any future negotiations with Israel should involve both Egypt and Syria. Syrian Foreign Minister Abdel Halim Khaddam arrived in Moscow for talks with Soviet leaders, as reported by the TASS news agency. The visit of the Syrian Foreign Minister concludes a series of Arab officials’ visits to the Soviet Union.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ismail Fahmy held meetings with Communist Party leader Leonid Brezhnev and other officials during the latter part of the week. Iraqi Vice President Saddam Hussein also engaged in talks with Kremlin leaders the previous week. The Soviet Union and Arab countries have been exerting pressure to resume the Middle East peace conference in Geneva following the failure of US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s shuttle diplomacy efforts last month.
Israeli government officials have asserted that all contracted US weapons are being delivered on schedule. However, there have been frequent reports of delays in the delivery of F-15 bombers and Lance (surface-to-surface) missiles as the United States reevaluates its Middle East policy. The official mentioned that the “US reassessment of its policy” is part of the ongoing pressure on Israel to influence its direction.
