Mrs. Meir: Israel Ready to Go to Cairo if Nasser Willing to Participate in Peace Talks

Premier Golda Meir, in a renewed appeal for Egyptian participation in peace negotiations, has announced that Israeli government representatives are prepared to go to Cairo to talk peace. In an interview published Friday in the Jerusalem Arabic daily “AI Anba” on the third anniversary of the Six-Day War, Mrs. Meir stated she was “convinced that peace will come,” observing “Both we and our neighbors need it.” Referring to President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Mrs. Meir asked: “Does he want the present situation or is he willing to make peace?” If he is willing, she said, “Then let him sit down with us and talk.” Referring to Israel’s willingness to go to Cairo, Mrs. Meir said: “We do not insist on prestige.” Discussing the consequence of the Middle East conflict in terms of loss of lives among the Israelis and Arabs, Mrs. Meir declared:

“We are not ashamed to admit,” she said, “that the war brings us heavy suffering. We are not ashamed to admit that every death on this battle-field cuts deep wounds into our hearts. The same applies to the Arab nations, even if their leaders to not want to admit it.” This was an apparent reference to the Egyptian contention that it can afford to lose several wars on the road to victory, while Israel cannot afford to lose a single one. “I refuse to believe,” Mrs. Meir continued, “that Jewish mothers love their sons more than Arab mothers. All mothers in the world want their children to live and not to get killed in the war.” In another development. Mrs. Meir has rejected the suggestion made Thursday night at the Labor Party bureau meeting to outlaw the pro-Soviet Rakah Party and the ultra-leftist anti-Zionist Matzpen group. (Israeli Socialist organization) The Premier observed that even during the days of the Mandate, the outlawed Communists continued their agitation. But Mrs. Meir was furious at the invitation extended by the Matzpen group to Daniel Cohn-Bendit, known as “Danny the Red.” The Premier said it was not likely he could offer anything but expressions of “hatred of Jews and Israel.”