THE ISRAELI Prime Minister Mr Shimon Peres, left Washington without securing the mutual defence pact Israel has, since its foundation, sought to conclude with the US, writes Michael Jansen.
This failure humbled Mr Peres, who not only promised his electorate a breakthrough on the pat, but also urged pro Israel groups in Washington to press the Clinton administration to accede to Israel's demand. But this administration, regarded by Israel as the most friendly ever, would not budge on the 48 year US refusal to sign such a treaty.
The original decision to reject a defence treaty with Israel was taken in 1948 by President Harry, Truman, who recognised the Jewish state at the very moment of its establishment. He and his advisers argued that he could not commit US troops to fight for Israel, but would provide Israel with the weaponry to fight its own battles. Although the US has sent troops elsewhere, Washington never provided forces to aid Israel in its wars with the Arabs.
The political establishment has been wary of making such a commitment because of latent anti Semitism in the US and the Pentagon's fear that Arab producers would cut off the supply of oil if US forces were committed one Israel's side. These two factors would seem to apply as much today as they did in 1948.
Although Saudi Arabia and several Gulf states possess just the sort of defence treaties Israeli seeks, the Arabs did not see Mr Peres's failure to obtain a pact as a rebuff. They focused instead on the range of military hardware he negotiated with the US Secretary, of Defence, Mr William Perry, who pledged to provide Israel with the Nautilus, a laser weapon capable of destroying incoming missiles in flight, the Arrow anti ballistic missile system and naval guns.
The Arabs were angered that Washington proffered this package 48 hours after Israel ended latest military offensive against Lebanon. They were alarmed because such high tech weaponry, used to boost Israel's already overwhelming arsenal, could discourage Israel from making the territorial concessions required, for the conclusion of a comprehensive regional peace.