Dr. Kurt Birenbach, West German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard’s special envoy, completed three days of talks with top Israeli Government officials today, and left for Bonn reportedly with Israel’s acceptance in principle of the West German offer to establish diplomatic relations.
Israel maintained a complete blackout on the content of the talks between Dr. Birenbach and the Israeli officials. But it was reliably reported that agreement had been reached on all points of issue between the two countries, including that of the suspension last month by West Germany of its arms deliveries to Israel.
Premier Levi Eshkol is scheduled to announce the results of the talks to Israel’s Parliament next Tuesday. The talks had gone so well, it was reported, that a second scheduled trip to Israel by Dr. Birenbach may be canceled. The West German Embassy would be located in Jerusalem.
Dr. Birenbach was whisked to Lydda airport this morning, Reporters were barred, and press photographers were stopped from taking pictures as the envoy, surrounded by special guards, prepared to board his plane.
Chancellor Erhard’s emissary, who was in constant contact with Bonn throughout the talks, visited former Premier David Ben-Gurion’s home in total secrecy and talked with him for an hour on West German-Israel relations. The meeting was held at the special request of Chancellor Erhard, who wanted to convey a personal message to the former Premier. Dr. Birenbach in turn promised to convey Ben-Gurion’s views to Dr. Erhard.
Premier Eshkol was understood to have consulted with his coalition partners on the tentative agreement with West Germany. The National Religious party was understood to support relations with West Germany. Achdut Avodah, which in the past has opposed closer ties with Bonn, indicated it would postpone a final decision, pending West Germany’s reply but the reply also indicated it would not make any difficulties for Premier Eshkol on the question.
Knesset delegates of Mr. Eshkol’s Mapai party met with the Premier and decided unanimously in favor of immediate full diplomatic relations with West Germany. The offer is favored by the Liberal party, while Herut, Mapam, Agudat Israel and the Communists remained opposed.
Dr. Birenbach’s final act here, it was announced, was a visit to the Yad Vashem, the Memorial Center for the European Jews murdered by the Nazis, and lighted an eternal flame for the martyrs.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
