Washington Report, June 27, 1983, Page 6

Facts For Your Files: A Chronology of U.S.-Middle East Relations

June 10:

On the subject of reduced emigration by Soviet Jews to Israel and other countries, President Reagan said to delegates attending the annual meeting of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith: “Let us stand together, speak the truth and tell the Soviets, stop persecuting innocent people. Let Israel's children go, or face the world's condemnation for making a mockery of an historic agreement that was signed by 35 nations." The President was referring to the 1975 Helsinki agreement in which the Soviets pledged greater care in considering emigration applications.

June 10:

In addition to commenting on the emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union, President Reagan also told participants of the Anti-Defamation League's annual meeting that "It's no coincidence that the same forces which are destabilizing the Middle East—the Soviet Union, Libya, the PLO—are working hand-in-glove to destabilize Central America."

June 10:

Samuel Lewis, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, in addressing the Anti-Defamation League's yearly meeting, said at one point that “Israel today is far too dependent on the U.S. for Israel's good and also for the good of the U.S. It is crucial for Israel to regain economic independence and not be subject to the vagaries of U.S. policy."

June 12:

Lawrence Eagleburger, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, told delegates attending a meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that U.S. relations with Israel were "back on an even keel." He added that the Reagan Administration was "deeply concerned" by the decrease in the number of Jews who were emigrating from the Soviet Union.

June 12:

Morris Draper, U.S. Special Envoy for Lebanon Negotiations, said on an American television news program that although the Reagan Administration was "talking" to Soviet authorities about a possible withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon, it was "not working with the Soviets actively" on the matter.

June 14:

The Lebanese parliament officially ratified—by a 65 to 2 vote, with 4 abstentions—the U.S.-mediated agreement between Lebanon and Israel which provides a framework for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

June 14:

Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger signaled a willingness to reinstitute the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding that was suspended by the Reagan Administration in December, 1981, following Israel's annexation of the Syrian Golan Heights. Mr. Weinberger, in answering questions after a luncheon address he gave in Washington, said that “the revival or restitution of that memorandum could take place at virtually any time, depending on the wishes of the Israeli government." The memorandum calls for joint naval and air exercises, cooperation in military research and development, and the provision of Israeli medical facilities for U.S. personnel in a crisis, among other things.

 June 22:

U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz announced that Philip Habib and Morris Draper, both Middle East negotiators for the U.S., were being sent to the region to help implement, among other objectives, the Lebanon-Israel agreement signed May 17. Secretary Shultz said that because Syria declined to meet with Mr. Habib in mid-May he "won't go" to Damascus and instead the Administration "will find other people who we hope will be acceptable to them (the Syrians).