Report Egypt Rejects Israeli Peace Plan; News Blackout Imposed on Progress of Talks

The Israel government has imposed a news blackout on the progress of the Jarring talks in order not to prejudice their success by injudicious “leaks” to the news media. It was leaned today however that Egypt has turned down Israeli proposals conveyed to Cairo by Jarring. According to reliable sources, President Anwar Sadat took issue with Israel’s argument that it cannot return to the pre-June. 1967 borders for reasons of security. The Egyptians reportedly told Jarring that Israel could not ask for more secure borders than her old ones if they are patrolled by a joint United States-Soviet peacekeeping force that cannot be removed without the express consent of the United Nations Security Council. Israel is opposed to a force made up of the two superpowers or to any UN force, recalling that Thant’s withdrawal of the UN emergency force from the Gaza Strip and Sinai in the spring of 1967 at the request of President Gamal Abdel Nasser was the direct cause of the Six-Day War. The Israelis have said that they are not opposed to Four Power guarantees of a peace treaty, once one is signed between Israel and her neighbors but would not accept such guarantees as a substitute for a peace treaty.

Deputy Premier Yigal Allon said on his return from a visit to the U.S. today that Egypt would find it difficult to reject the Israeli proposals as a whole because they are based on international law and international precedents. He said the Jarring talks were only in their beginning stage and it was too early to prophesy their outcome. Allon also said he was opposed to the violent tactics of Jewish militants in the U. S. against Soviet diplomatic premises. He warned that the behavior of the Jewish Defense League would harm American Jews more than help Soviet Jews. Meanwhile, Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny pledged in Alexandria yesterday that the Soviet Union will replace Egypt’s “material losses” in the event of renewed warfare against Israel. Podgorny, who was in Egypt for the dedication of the Soviet built Aswan High Dam, spoke to 5000 cheering shipyard workers. President Sadat replied that Egypt “will be a faithful friend because we can never forget your help in times of difficulty and darkness.”