Britain: Egyptians Rejected Soviets as ‘Sole Advisor’

British Prime Minister Edward Heath and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in London on December 12, 1973 (Getty Images)
British Prime Minister Edward Heath and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in London on December 12, 1973 (Getty Images)
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Britain: Egyptians Rejected Soviets as ‘Sole Advisor’

British Prime Minister Edward Heath and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in London on December 12, 1973 (Getty Images)
British Prime Minister Edward Heath and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in London on December 12, 1973 (Getty Images)

The recent declassification of historical British government records, dating from the period following the “October War,” has provided insight into the communication between the conservative government of that era and the US administration as they grappled with the consequences of the conflict.

These documents indicate that former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger reached an “informal understanding” with the Soviet Union to “restrain” the supply of weapons being sent to the warring parties.

While Kissinger’s initial focus was on achieving a ceasefire, the British noted that both the Americans and the Soviets had not considered who would oversee the enforcement of the ceasefire, particularly on the Egyptian front, where the situation was “highly complex.”

While secret proceedings primarily addressed the ceasefire and peace conference efforts, which were not favored by Kissinger, a significant portion of them revolved around the Arab oil embargo on Western nations following the October War in 1973 .

This development prompted the British to begin preparations for imposing fuel rationing, as revealed in the documents.

The documents also unveil that the then conservative government expressed concerns about a pro-Israel lobby in the British media.

They perceived that supporters of Israel in the UK were portraying its stance on the Middle East conflict incorrectly by depicting it as succumbing to Arab pressures.

Notably, during Edward Heath’s government in power during the October War, it was observed that unquestioning endorsement of Israel’s perspective without criticism did not serve the interests of either the UK or Britain’s economy.

There was a belief that public support for Israel as a “victim” in the eyes of the Arab world would diminish if British economic interests suffered due to its policies.

On Tuesday, October 23, 1973, Heath’s government held a meeting at 10 Downing Street that addressed aspects of the Arab-Israeli war.

The classified meeting minutes revealed that the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, informed his colleagues that he had “met with the US Secretary of State the previous evening when Kissinger had stopped in London on his way back to Washington after visiting Moscow and Tel Aviv.”

It was evident from discussions between the Russians and the Americans that while they were focused on achieving a ceasefire, they had not given much thought to who would oversee it.

In the event of a ceasefire being achieved on the Syrian front, it was deemed that there wouldn't be significant operational difficulties in maintaining it, given the interconnected Israeli control in the Golan Heights.

On the southern front, however, the situation was extremely complex, as Egyptian forces east of the Suez Canal had lost their supply lines from the west.

Therefore, a ceasefire there was considered inherently fragile.

The British Foreign Secretary advised Kissinger to arrange with the then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kurt Waldheim, to strengthen the UN’s ceasefire monitoring mechanism and deploy it immediately to oversee the ceasefire and assist in dealing with on-ground challenges.

The minutes also report that Foreign Secretary Douglas-Home stated in the meeting that preliminary reports on discussions that took place in Cairo the previous day (on November 7) between President Sadat and Kissinger indicate that they agreed to pursue arrangements whereby the way would be opened for the Egyptian Third Army under the supervision of UN observers, a prisoner exchange would occur, and within 10 to 15 days, a peace conference would commence.

Kissinger’s then advisor relayed these proposals to Israel.

The intention was for the peace conference to involve Waldheim, the conflicting parties, the US, and the Soviet Union.

According to the minutes report, it was learned that the Egyptians prefer a somewhat broader conference, as they do not wish for the Soviet Union to be their sole advisor.

 

 



Johnny Moore… What Do We Know About Chairman of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

People carrying boxes and bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages distributed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation last month in Rafah, in southern Gaza. (AP)
People carrying boxes and bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages distributed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation last month in Rafah, in southern Gaza. (AP)
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Johnny Moore… What Do We Know About Chairman of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

People carrying boxes and bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages distributed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation last month in Rafah, in southern Gaza. (AP)
People carrying boxes and bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages distributed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation last month in Rafah, in southern Gaza. (AP)

As the world condemned the killings this week of dozens of hungry Palestinians near US-backed aid sites in Gaza, the group responsible for distributing that aid quietly appointed a new leader: an evangelical Christian with ties to the Trump administration.

The group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which was founded last year, announced on Tuesday that Johnnie Moore, an American public relations professional, would be its new executive chairman after the previous chief quit.

Moore’s appointment comes as the foundation, which began handing out food boxes last week, temporarily halted operations on Wednesday to work on “organization and efficiency.”

It had been racked by a resignation in its ranks, chaos at its distribution sites and violence nearby, including two shooting episodes in which dozens of Palestinians were killed, according to local health workers.

Here is what to know about Moore and his ties to the Trump administration.

A presence in the Oval Office

Moore was a spokesman for Liberty University, the Christian institution founded in Lynchburg, Virginia., in 1971 by the Rev. Jerry Falwell, for a dozen years before moving into the media industry and starting his own faith-based public relations firm.

He represented early evangelical supporters of President Trump, including Jerry Falwell Jr, who succeeded his father at Liberty University, and Paula White, who now leads the White House faith office.

Moore was co-chairman of the 2016 Trump presidential campaign’s evangelical advisory board and an influential figure during Trump’s first administration. He was part of a coalition of Christian leaders who paid regular visits to the White House, attending policy briefings, as well as prayer meetings in the Oval Office.

His public relations company, Kairos, was acquired in 2022 by JDA Worldwide, and Moore now serves as president of that larger firm.

When he announced the acquisition on social media, Moore referred to his work in public relations as his “day job” as he has had many other roles and projects linked to his faith and interest in foreign policy, including writing books on the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and Africa.

In 2017, Moore told The New York Times that he and other evangelicals had pressed Trump to recognize Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem and to move the US Embassy there. “It has been an issue of priority for a long time,” he said.

Moore describes himself as “a bridge builder and peacemaker especially known for consequential work at the intersection of faith and foreign policy, especially in the Middle East.”

The embassy move drew condemnation from Palestinian and Arab leaders, the heads of many Christian churches in Jerusalem and much of the international community, which has long viewed the status of Jerusalem as a matter to be resolved through negotiations over a future Palestinian state.

A cheerleader for Mike Huckabee

Moore, like many evangelicals, including Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, is committed to a Jewish state based on his interpretation of the Bible.

Some evangelicals view their support for Israel as an important element of their belief in biblical prophecy. Speaking to The Washington Post in 2018, Moore said he had advised White House officials that “those who bless Israel will be blessed.”

Moore cheered Huckabee’s nomination, saying on social media in November that “selecting a lifelong non-Jewish Zionist as the US ambassador to Israel sends a powerful message to friend and foe of America.”

Huckabee, 69, and Moore, 41, have walked similar paths as public figures and Christian media creators, and they have been described as friends in Israeli news media. The embassy did not respond to a request for comment on their relationship.

The new face of a troubled Gaza organization

Israel imposed a blockade on supplies entering the Gaza Strip in March, accusing Hamas of looting humanitarian aid. That embargo was lifted to a limited degree last month, after the international community raised alarms about widespread hunger in the enclave.

Israelis conceived of the new system to establish aid distribution sites run by American security contractors in the enclave. It was meant, officials said, to circumvent Hamas, which Israel accused of stealing assistance meant for civilians.

But the rollout of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s operation has been chaotic. Its previous head resigned hours before the initiative was set to begin late last month, citing a lack of autonomy.

On Tuesday, Boston Consulting Group, a US advisory firm, said that it had stepped back from its involvement with the organization, that it had placed a partner who had worked on the project on leave and that it would conduct an internal review of its work.

Humanitarian organizations have criticized the foundation’s approach to aid distribution for a lack of independence from Israel, whose soldiers are positioned near the sites and have fired what the Israeli military has called “warning” shots on multiple occasions.

And the United Nations has refused to have anything to do with the effort because it says Israel is militarizing and politicizing humanitarian assistance and putting Palestinians in danger.

As reports of disarray at aid distribution sites emerged during the project’s first week, Moore said the effort was “working” and should be “celebrated.”

When the Gazan health authorities reported shooting deaths near one of the foundation’s sites, Moore reposted a statement from Huckabee accusing the news media and Hamas of spreading misinformation.

Moore lists 18 years of service with World Help, a Christian humanitarian organization, among his volunteer experiences, along with his new appointment at the Gaza foundation and his roles on various advisory boards, including that of the nonpartisan advocacy group Muslim Coalition for America and Haifa University in Israel.

In a statement about his appointment, Moore said he would help “ensure the humanitarian aid community and the broader international community understand what’s taking place on the ground.” The foundation declined a request for an interview.

*Ephrat Livni is a reporter for The New York Times’ DealBook newsletter, based in Washington.