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2100Z 08 June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S. Defense Attache Office, Tel Aviv to
Defense Intelligence Agency and
Department of State and
Office of Secretary of Defense and others

O 082100Z JUN 67
FM USDAO TEL AVIV ISRAEL
TO DIA
DEPT STATE
OSD
USDAO AMMAN
USUN
INFO CINCSTRIKE
AMCONGEN JERUSALEM
USCINCAUR-USEUCOM
CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO
CINCUSAFE
CINCUSAREUR
COMSIXTHFLT
JCS
USDAO LONDON
AMEMBASSY JIDDA
BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L 0834 JUN 67.
SUBJECT: ISRAELI ACCIDENTAL ATTACK ON U.S.S. LIBERTY, 8 JUNE.
  1. FLO HAS PASSED IDF ARMY SPOKESMAN STATEMENT RELEASED TO
PRESS AT 1930Z. QUOTE: AN UNIDENTIFIED VESSEL APPROACHED THE
EL ARISH (3107N-3348E) AREA AT NOON TODAY. FIRE WAS OPENED ON
THE VESSEL. AFTER IT WAS VERIFIED THAT THE VESSEL WAS NOT AN
ENEMY VESSEL, ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED BUT THE VESSEL CONTINUED
UNDER OWN STEAM. THE VESSEL BELONGS TO THE U.S. NAVY AND THE
ISRAELI AUTHORITIES APOLOGIZED. THE VESSEL WAS 18 MILES OFF THE
COAST UNQUOTE.
  2. LOCAL APOLOGIES FROM IDF PASSED TO ALUSNA EARLIER. SEE DAO
0825. [081414Z]
  3. DAO HAS MADE NO COMMENT TO IDF, WHO ARE APPARENTLY VERY
CONCERNED AND WORRIED HOW ACCIDENTAL ATTACK WILL BE TREATED BY
USG.
  4. EGYPTIAN SHELLING ATTACK FROM SEA IN GAZA AREA REPORTED BY
IDF YESTERDAY. SEE DAO 0812.
  5. ASSISTANCE AFTER ACCIDENT OFFERED BY IDF NAVY MTBS
WHICH WE HAVE BEEN TOLD USS LIBERTY WAVED OFF.
  6. REF PHONE CONVERSATION (COL TAYLOR DIA AND COL PERNA DAO,
TEL AVIV) ISRAELI HELICOPTERS NOT USED OR PRESENTLY CONTEMPLATED
FOR RESCUE. WE UNDERSTAND FROM PHONE CONF. USS LIBERTY DOES NOT
PRESENTLY SEEK ISRAELI ASSISTANCE, AND HAS SATISFACTORY RADIO
CONTACT WITH USN NET.
  7. ALUSNA OVERFLIGHT IN IDF HELICOPTER FOR INSPECTION AND
ATTEMPTED CONTACT NOT PRODUCTIVE. COURSE 60 NM WEST OF ASKELON AT
1930Z. AND MAY BE HAVING SOME STEERING DIFFICULTY.
  8. IDF WILL RESPOND IN RESCUE IF ASKED. HOWEVER WE SHALL
INITIATE NO REQUEST REPEAT NO REQUEST UNLESS ADVISED BY NMCC OR
OTHER WASH AGENCY.
  9. IDF REQUESTS THAT IF ANY OTHER US SHIPS (OR AIRCRAFT) ARE
IN OR CONTEMPLATE ENTRANCE TO COMBATANT AREAS, WE PROVIDE
APPROPRIATE NOTICE. COORDINATED WITH EMBASSY.
GP-3
BT

Message subject lineage: 151615Z JUN 67 USDAO TEL AVIV

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