Rabin Returning to U.S. with Instructions, Directives; No Message to Nixon

Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin, who left Lydda Airport today for Washington, told newsmen before his departure that he was bearing no message from Premier Golda Meir to President Richard Nixon. Gen. Rabin said he was given “instructions and directives” which he would bring to the attention of American officials. The Israeli envoy to Washington was called home last week for consultations on the new U.S. peace initiative in the Middle East. He attended Sunday’s Cabinet meeting and participated in a meeting with the Knesset Foreign Affairs committee yesterday dealing with the American peace plan. But he would not disclose any information about the plan to reporters. He observed, as Premier Meir did in her Knesset speech yesterday, that the U.S. government asked that no details be released at this time. Gen. Rabin said Mrs. Meir’s address was “a clear statement of what Israel’s position is.”

The Israeli press generally approved of Mrs. Meir’s address. Davar said that despite the diplomatic vagueness in which the speech was couched, Mrs. Meir made it clear that Israel rejects a limited cease-fire that would provide Egypt with strategic and tactical advantages. Haaretz said the government did well in employing quiet diplomacy in its contacts with the United States but warned that a formulation must be found “which will not expose Israel once again to accusations of inflexibility.” Hatzofe did not think the new American initiative would lead any closer to peace but approved Mrs. Meir’s assertion that Israel was ready to discuss any proposal that will further the prospects of peace. Lamerhav warned that “The Prime Minister’s restrained tone should not and cannot implant delusions concerning the latest American initiative which is contrary to Israel’s best interests.” But Al Hamismar thought that Israel should have accepted a cease-fire of limited duration “that would leave no room for anxiety lest it be exploited by her enemies.” According to the paper, Nasser would have rejected efficient supervisory conditions and the onus of continuing the war would be on him.