Dayan: Egypt Does Not Really Wish to Conclude Separate Treaty with Israel

In an interview yesterday on Swiss television, Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan said that in his opinion Egypt does not really wish to conclude a separate peace agreement with Israel. He said “Egypt is reluctant to reach a separate agreement with us and would prefer that another Arab state, such as Jordan, would join her so that Egypt could not be accused by the Arab countries as being a traitor.”

Concerning the Egyptian effort to purchase military hardware in the U.S. Dayan said, “I do not understand why Egypt needs so much arms. The question is, who would attack Egypt? I know who will attack Israel.” Dayan left Zurich this morning for the U.S. Yesterday he held a meeting with Israeli Ambassadors in Europe. A participant told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that it was an exchange of views but no new policy was brought up.