MR. HELMS IN TEL AVIV

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01601R000300130002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: July 1, 1971
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2&1169164" ' 0i ' bAb-01601
71 JUL 1971
proper person to represent Washington. diplo
matically. Why should Mr. helms meet with
'Prime Minister Golda Ilxeir, Defense Minister
Moshe Dayan and Foreign Minister Abbe Eban'.
The only reason we can think of is that the
CIA chief might be expected to have secret in-
formation relating to Russian or Arab inten-
tions. Speculation that a renewal of diplomatic
relations between Russia and Israel may be in
the offing arose a few days ago after reports
that a Russian journalist had. visited Israel. A
month ago Mrs. Moir denied reports she held
secret talks with Soviet officials during an un
announced visit to northern Finland. Soviet-
Israeli diplomatic relations were severed in 1967.
Israeli officials also may be worried about
the so-called phantom -memorandum, a paper
.given Egypt in May by the U.S. representative-
in Cairo, Donald Dergus. It purportedly set forth
a plan for getting the Siiez Canal reopened; its
source was obscure. It apparently prompted
complaints by Russia of secret Cairo-Washing
ton dealings.
What all this means, if anything, remains as
carefully hidden as a CIA appropriation. We
can only hope that behind-the-scenes progress
toward accommodation is being made.
Mr. I e1 s in Tel Aviv: ,
Rumors are flying again in the Middle East,
and they are not likely to be allayed by the
visit of Richard Helms, director of the Central
Intelligence Agency, to Israel. The visit was
supposed to be secret and both Israel and the
United States denied it until news leaks in
Israel and abroad forced it into the open. So
much for the credibility gap.
But the basic question is, What is Mr. Helms
doing in Israel? Secretary of State Rogers has
taken the lead in American efforts to find a
way to peace in the Middle East, and he is the
Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP80-01601 R000300130002-6