NEW MESSAGE FROM RIFAI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-477-8-13-0
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 5, 2012
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: July 27, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/05: LOC-HAK-477-8-13-0
w W
THE WHITE HOUSE
INFORMATION
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY July 27, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
HENRY A. KISSINGER
AL HAIG
New Message from Rifai
Rifai's message to you (Tab A), dated July i
reports his impressions of the latest Israeli-Jordanian
meeting of June 29. He is exceedingly gloomy about Israeli inflexi-
bility. He is convinced that:
--'Israel will retain most of the territories, even at the price
of perpetual war.
-- Only the US can exert sufficient weight to change Israel's
position.
-- Israel not only accepts the inevitability of a new war but is
preparing for one, as early as the end of this year.
-- Jordan will not participate in a new war as long as there is
any hope of a settlement.
DOS REVIEW
COMPLETED
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
?r,-)S (3)
T0P SECRET
L;p,SSIFtED 13'y'- 1jL14JtY A. KISSINGER
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/05: LOC-HAK-477-8-13-0
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/05: LOC-HAK-477-8-13-0
IV -v.vrWr,' -
THE ROYAL PALACE,
Amman, Jordan,
July 15, 1972.
Dear Sir,
I thought of writing you a few lines to give you our
impressions of the meeting whicI took place on the 29th of
June 1972, the details of which,I had sent to you F
As a result of that meeting, the following points
seem to us to be obvious:
1. Israel has no intention of withdrawing from
a large part of the occupied territories. She wants
major changes in the 1967 borders, even if the price of
retaining the territory is a state of perpetual war.
Israel is not interested in peace if it means giving up
her war gains.
2. The above Israeli intransigent position
.will not'change "if Israel can help it." We had the
impression from the meeting that Israel will only change
her position -- if at all -- if she was persuaded to do so.
We believe that the only country that can exert productive
and persuasive weight on Israel is the United States. We
believe time is running out, and some movement must be
started if a war is to be averted.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/05: LOC-HAK-477-8-13-0
 .
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/05: LOC-HAK-477-8-13-0
TOP SECRET
3. 'Under the existing conditions of no peace,
Israel not only accepts the inevitability of a new war
but is actually preparing herself for one. A war between
Israel and Egypt and, in our view, Syria and possibly
Lebanon, might.take place soon. The Israelis believe
this will happen towards the end of the year or early
next year. We have made it clear to them that Jordan
will not participate in a new war as long as there is the
faintest glimmer of hope in establishing a permanent
peace. We are adamant in our determination to continue
to make progress towards peace irrespective of the
obstacles which we are bound to encounter.
4+. We realize that the United States will not
be in a position to play an effective role to establish
a permanent peace before the end of the year, but I
thought it might be important to give you our impressions
of the most recent contacts we have had with our neighbors.
With my best regards and wishes,
Respectfully yours,
Zaid al.-Rifai
Political Advisor
to His Majesty
The Honourable
Dr. Henry Kissinger,
The White House,
Wanhin,xtnn_ n_C_ _
IT_ No_Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/05: LOC-HAK-477-8-13-0
M"
IM