The Israeli elections loom over, the Geneva, conference. The political talks at ministerial or even ambassadorial level have been adjourned till the second half of January and the military negotiators discuss, according to their own communiques, “principles” more than concrete disengagement means. All the delegations still present in Geneva, mainly middle echelon officials, realize that nothing serious can happen and no break-through can be achieved till the elections are over and a new government is formed.
It Is a strange sight to see the offices of the Egyptian delegation here strewn with Israeli foreign language publications as officials and newsmen follow the latest. Israeli electoral developments. On most desks at the Egyptian delegation one can see copies of French and English-Israeli dailies as well as cuttings from the wire services reporting Israeli electoral promises, pledges, and returns. Egyptian newsmen talk fluently, somewhat like their Israeli counterparts, about the chances of the Likud and the number of seats the “Maarakh” Alignment might lose. Some of them question Israeli colleagues about the influence of the “Tel Aviv Gush” the weight of Deputy Premier Yigal Allon within Mapai Inner circles and Menachem Beigin’s chances to Join a national coalition government.
Even the Russians seem to follow, though with a certain naivety; Israeli internal politics. The Russians seem strangely misinformed about Israel’s political system and Soviet newsmen here persistently ask about the chances for a “left bloc” victory which would bring to power Rakah (the pro-Moscow Israeli Communist Party) and other small left-wing groups such as Moked and the Matzpen group. Most Soviet newsmen and officials at the Geneva Conference seem to hold their knowledge about Israel’s political life from a couple of Soviet official publications dealing with the Middle East. To many observers it seems as if the Russians are the victims of their own propaganda.
Even the Americans follow the elections but seem to base their knowledge on professional reports. The American delegation receives a daily analysis of electoral developments from its Tel Aviv Embassy and from the State Department In Washington. Many of the American officials also have a first hand knowledge of Israel and the Middle East, having served or visited the area at one point or other of their career. Obviously the Israelis have a double interest In the elections: first, as participants in their country’s life and future; and secondly, realizing as delegates that all talks and discussions In Geneva can only deal with generalities and “principles” till the formation of the new government and the promulgation of its broad political lines.
The Egyptians seem well aware of this handicap and last Friday agreed to hold the next meeting of the military delegations only In the afternoon of Jan. 2 when the electoral results will be In. Shortly before leaving Geneva. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ismail Fahmy met for over two hours with the deputy head of the Soviet Delegation, Ambassador Vladimir Vinogradov. According to Egyptian sources here, the Soviet diplomat advised the Egyptians to show “patience and realism” till after the Israeli election and not press for a decision on the disengagement Issue till then. He reportedly told Fahmy that It would be useless for the Egyptians to press for a solution as nothing can be done before. At the same time he promised a clean-cut Soviet Intervention should the issue not be solved by the middle of Jan. He did not specify whether the Soviet Intervention would be direct or would work through Washington.
Egyptian circles here say that as from the next meeting, tomorrow, the Egyptian delegation will step up Its pressure. Though the talks deal officially with military matters “disengagement and the separation of forces” along the Suez Canal, the Egyptians plan to turn this Issue into a political one. The Egyptian thesis is that it is all part of Resolution 338 which, In turn, has been voted by the Security Council within the framework of Resolution 242 For the Egyptians, disengagement Is synonymous with withdrawal. The Israeli delegation In Geneva, consisting of Maj. Gen. Mordechai Gur, Col. Dov Sion and Foreign Ministry aide David Ramin, will probably receive new Instructions from Israel’s next government. Should the Israeli political situation remain basically unchanged after the elections, the delegation Is expected to ask for Egyptian concessions on the basis of reciprocity.
Israeli officials who were In Geneva with Foreign Minister Abba Eban at the time of the plenary conference, indicated at the time that Israel will probably ask as a first step for the following Egyptian concessions: The demilitarization of the Sinai or at least of the territories from which Israel will withdraw as well as a limitation of Egyptian troops on the Eastern Bank of the Canal; the reopening of the Suez Ganai to the International shipping with Clearance work to start at the earliest; and repopulation of the abandoned Egyptian “ghost” cities along the canal, such as Suen and Port Said. The Israelis seem to think that these last two points would prevent, or at least complicate, new Egyptian attacks across the Canal entailing major human and financial risks, Meanwhile Israeli and Egyptian officers meet at the Palais des Nations. This week things will probably return to normal as the real negotiation will start.
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.
