US-Israel Strategic Cooperation

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States and the Government of Israel on Strategic Cooperation

November 30, 1981

After a few weeks of discussions between working groups, Israel's Defense Minister Sharon and the U.S. Defense Secretary Weinberger signed on 30 November in Washington a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation. The main objective was to deter Soviet threats in the Middle East. There would be joint military exercises, land, sea and air; there would also be planning for the establishment and maintenance of joint readiness activities. Joint working teams will deal with specific military issues. The Arab world and the Soviet Union were highly critical of this agreement, which they felt would impair America's ability to deal fairly with the peace process in the Middle East.

TEXT:

PREAMBLE

This memorandum of understanding reaffirms the common bonds of friendship between the United States and Israel and builds on the mutual security relationship that exists between the two nations. The parties recognize the need to enhance strategic cooperation to deter all threats from the Soviet Union to the region. Noting the longstanding and fruitful cooperation for mutual security that has developed between the two countries, the parties have decided to establish a framework for continued consultation and cooperation to enhance their national security by deterring such threats to the whole region.

The parties have reached the following agreements in order to achieve the above aims.

ARTICLE I

United States-Israel strategic cooperation, as set forth in this memorandum, is designed against the threat to peace and security of the region caused by the Soviet Union or Soviet-controlled forces from outside the region introduced into the region. It has the following broad purposes:

A.   To enable the parties to act cooperatively and in a timely manner to deal with the above-mentioned threat.

B.   To provide each other with military assistance for operations of their forces in the area that may be required to cope with this threat.

C.   The strategic cooperation between the parties is not directed at any state or group of states within the region. It is intended solely for defensive purposes against the above-mentioned threat.

ARTICLE II

1.    The fields in which strategic cooperation will be carried out to prevent the above-mentioned threat from endangering the security of the region include:

A.   Military cooperation between the parties, as may be agreed by the parties.

B.   Joint military exercise, including naval and air exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, as agreed upon by the parties.

C.   Cooperation for the establishment and maintenance of joint readiness activities, as agreed upon by the parties.

D.   Other areas within the basic scope and purpose of this agreement, as may be jointly agreed.

2.    Details of activities within these fields of cooperation shall be worked out by the parties in accordance with the provisions of Article III below. The cooperation will include, as appropriate, planning, preparations, and exercises.

ARTICLE III

1.    The Secretary of Defense and the Minister of Defence shall establish a coordinating council to further the purpose of this memorandum.

A.   To coordinate and provide guidance to joint working groups.

B.   To monitor the implementation of cooperation in the fields agreed upon by the parties within the scope of this agreement.

C.   To hold periodic meetings, in Israel and the United States, for the purposes of discussing and resolving outstanding issues and to further the objectives set forth in this memorandum. Special meetings can be held at the request of either party. The Secretary of Defense and Minister of Defence will chair these meetings whenever possible.

2.    Joint working groups will address the following issues:

A.   Military cooperation between the parties, including joint U.S.-Israel exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

B.   Cooperation for the establishment of joint readiness activities including access to maintenance facilities and other infrastructure, consistent with the basic purposes of this agreement.

C.   Cooperation in research and development, building on past cooperation in this area.

D.   Cooperation in defence trade.

E.   Other fields within the basic scope and purpose of this agreement, such as questions of prepositioning, as agreed by the coordinating council.

3.    The future agenda for the work of the joint working groups, their composition and procedures for reporting to the coordinating council shall be agreed upon by the parties.

ARTICLE IV

This memorandum shall enter into force upon exchange of notification that required procedures have been completed by each party. If either party considers it necessary to terminate this memorandum of understanding, it may do so by notifying the other party six months in advance of the effective date of termination.

ARTICLE V

Nothing in the memorandum shall be considered as derogating from pervious agreements and understandings between the parties.

ARTICLE VI

The parties share the understanding that nothing in this memorandum is intended to or shall in any way prejudge the rights and obligations which devolve or may devolve upon either government under the charter of the United Nations or under international law. The parties reaffirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the charter of the United Nations and their aspiration to live in peace with all countries in the region.