The one-day visit of Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance which ended last night left the impression among Israeli leaders that no major changes in U.S. Middle East policy are likely. However, President Carter is expected to formulate an American policy aimed at advancing peace in the area after he hears Vance’s assessment of his tour of Israel and five Arab countries.
Vance said on his departure last night that he is “encouraged by Israel’s flexibility” on outstanding issues. He stressed that the U.S. is “deeply committed” to the quest for peace in the region and told his Israeli hosts “We will work with you in full consultation, as we will with leaders of other countries.” He noted that there was a “special relationship” between the U.S. and Israel but added that if the U.S. was to have the role of peace-maker, it had to consult with all parties concerned.
The American diplomat said at a press conference here last night that he would raise the possibility of an end of belligerency with Arab leaders. Israel has indicated that while its ultimate aim is a final, formal peace treaty with the Arab countries, it would be prepared to negotiate for something less than a full peace settlement at this time.
ISRAEL’S FLEXIBILITY ENCOURAGING
On the issue of recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organization and its participation in the negotiating process, Vance endorsed Israel’s position that opposes any contact with the PLO on grounds that it is a terrorist organization bent on Israel’s destruction. But the “flexibility” that Vance credited Israel with demonstrating emerged in Foreign Minister Yigal Allon’s reply to a reporter who asked if Israel would accept a PLO representative as part of the Jordanian delegation to a reconvened Geneva conference.
Allon said, “As an official representative of the PLO, the answer is no. But if the PLO changes the Palestinian covenant and ceases to undertake terrorist actions, we shall accept a Palestinian representative.” Asked what would happen if the PLO does not change its covenant but is represented on the Jordanian delegation, Allon replied, “We shall not accept him as an official representative of the PLO. But if (Jordanian King) Hussein appoints him, that’s Hussein’s problem.”
Vance said before he left that he had “a much clearer understanding of the position of Israel” on a possible settlement. However, there were a number of side issues of serious concern to Israel, though not central to a peace settlement, that continued to nag U.S.-Israeli relations and were not settled by Vance’s visit.
Defense Minister Shimon Peres referred to one of them during the talks with Vance–the U.S. ban of the projected sale of 25 Israel-made “Kfir” jet interceptors to Ecuador. The State Department has refused to issue a re-export license for the Kfirs which are powered by General Electric engines and, as a result, the $150 million sale to Ecuador is probably lost. Israeli sources said that Vance showed little sign of reconsidering the ban when the matter was raised with him. There was also little understanding reached on the issue of Israeli oil drilling in the Gulf of Suez which the U.S. opposes.
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.
