NEW MESSAGE FROM RIFAI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-478-3-14-3
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 18, 2012
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: July 27, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/18: LOC-HAK-478-3-14-3
MEMORANDUM
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
FROM:
SUBJECT:
MEMORANDUM FOR:
Rifai's xnes sage
INFORMAT ION
July 27, 1.972
HENRY A. KISSINGER
AL HAIG
New Message from Rifai
to you (Tab A), dated July 1
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.
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
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ToP SEC~~` ti :
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G'L.ASSf~ED B.Y.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/18: LOC-HAK-478-3-14-3
THE WHITE HOUSE
WA$Mtno7Ol1
MORI/CDF C00776463 Pages 1-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/18: LOC-HAK-478-3-14-3
TOP SECRET
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 whic took place on the 29th of
June 1972, the details of whichiI had sent to you
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 2012/12/18: LOC-HAK-478-3-14-3
 ISWK-VIVA K-1b.A
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/18: LOC-HAK-478-3-14-3
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,
The Honourable
Dr. Henry Kissinger,
The White House,
Washington, D.C.,
U. S.A..~..._....._....
Respectfully yours,
Zaid al-Rifai
Political Advisor
to His Majesty
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/18: LOC-HAK-478-3-14-3