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NOTE OF THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE MIDDLE AND MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES OF THE USSR MFA I.I. BAKULIN TO DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE USSR V.A. ZORIN

November 24, 1948

Secret

November 11 this year In a conversation with me, the envoy of the State of Israel in Moscow, Golda Meyerson, and the military attaché of the Ratner mission, conveyed the request of the government of the State of Israel to the Soviet government to provide assistance to the State of Israel with heavy weapons and other equipment necessary for the Israeli army. Defense Attaché Colonel Ratner said that the Israeli army needs primarily artillery, tanks and aircraft, and that the Israeli government's request for weapons specifies the types of heavy weapons and other equipment. I replied that I would bring the request of the Government of Israel to the attention of the leadership of the Ministry.

In view of the fact that Meyerson and the military attaché Ratner may again return to this question and ask about the answer to the transmitted request of the Government of Israel, I would consider it possible, in the event of such an appeal, to answer them that the Soviet government, which is attentive to the fate of the State of Israel and protects its right to an independent and independent existence, nevertheless, does not want to contradict the decision of the Security Council to end hostilities in Palestine and to prohibit UN members from supplying arms to the armies of the countries fighting in Palestine.

We have already given the same answer to a similar question through Comrade Gromyko, in New York, to Israel's representative to the UN. I ask for your directions

I. Bakulin

WUA RF. F. 089. Op. 1.P.1.D.5.Sheet 17.

Published: Soviet-Israeli relations: Collection of documents. Volume 1: 1941-1953. Book 1: 1941 - May 1949. M., 2000. Doc. No. 201.