The process of nomalizing relations between Israel and Egypt took a giant step forward during a weekend of ceremonial pomp and color highlighted by the return of EI Arish to Egyptian sovreignty after 12 years of Israeli administration and the declaration by Premier Menachem Begin and President Anwar Sadat that the borders between their two countries are now open.
The two leaders travelled by helicopter from EI Arish to Beersheba where both addressed the students and faculty of Ben Gurion University. From there they embarked on a 45-minute flight in Sadat’s Presidential jet. over parts of the Negev and Egyptian-controlled Sinai, The flight, originally to have lasted 90 minutes and to have circled both Tel Aviv and Cairo before returning to Beersheba, was shortened because of the late hour. But it served it’s purpose to symbolize the open borders and the future air corridors for tourism and commerce between Israel and Egypt.
DAYAN WILL MEET EGYPTIAN LEADERS IN CAIRO JUNE
During the circular flight, Sadat decisively quashed the recent misunderstanding over the open borders issue when he told the pool reporters including the Jewish Telegraphic Agency correspondent, that he had personally overruled his Foreign Minister, Boutros Ghali who had counseled delaying the effective date. Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan will go to Cairo next Monday, June 4, to discuss the technical details involved in opening the borders and other issues pertaining to normal relations with Ghali and Egyptian Prime Minister Mustapha Khalil. Begin and Sadat arranged to meet again in Alexandria in the first week of July.
The three days of festivities marked an historic juncture in the history of the Middle East and was characterized by genuine warmth between Begin and Sadat. Both men met privately in EI Arish Sunday morning, 48 hours after the Israeli flog was hauled down and the red, white and black flog of Egypt was raised over the town of 41,000, the adminstrative capital of Sinai. In the afternoon, they addressed a gathering of Israeli and Egyptian war invalids in the local movie house the only auditorium suitable for the occasion.
It was there that Begin announced that he and Sadat had agreed that “the borders are open as of now ” and that they would meet in Alexandria in a month’s time. He also announced, to rousing applause, that, at the request of President Sadat “As soon as I return to Israel I shall take steps to set free a number of (Palestinian) prisoners whose release will not impair the security of Israel. “
Later, during their flight over Israeli and Egyptian territory, Sadat pledged that the open borders would be implemented ” as fast as possible ” With Begin at his side, he said, ” We have agreed on the principle that whenever we can give the peace process a momentum we shall do it.” He said it will now be up to the ministers of both countries to negotiate the details of accelerated normalization. “We have agreed together today,” Sadat said, nodding toward Begin, “it is now the duty of the ministers to make the preparations for this.”
SADAT REVEALS DISPUTE WITH GHALI
He revealed that he had been at odds with Ghali and the Foreign Ministry over the open borders issue which was the reason for the contradictory statements emanating from Cairo during the past week. Ghali had said the borders would not be opened until 15 months after the return of EI Arish and later reduced it to nine months. “My Ministry of Foreign Affairs opposed the idea,” Sadat said. “But I gave my promise to Premier Begin (in Cairo last March). When the Minister (Ghali) was asked, he put forward his ministry’s point of view. But I gave my promise. There has never been any misunderstanding at all. We had a very long discussion in Egypt before I carne (to EI Arish) and it was either I convince them or they convinceme.Well, fortunately, I convinced them.”
Asked if his relations with Begin were ” improving with every meeting, ” Sadat replied, ” Yes, for sure. For sure. yes. ” One reporter asked if he thought Begin would tone down his statements regarding settlements on the West Bank. Sadat replied, “Let us hope so, let us hope so. ” He said he found Begin’s speech earlier in the day at Ben Gurion University ” a good speech. ” (See separate story.)
Begin, for his part, said both he and Sadat were “born optimists” and that the day had been a “wonderful day.” When those remarks, in Hebrew, were translated for Sadat, the Egyptian President nodded vigorously in approval.
Sadat side stepped a question about the commonality of strategic interests between Israel and Egypt in the face of Soviet inspired subversion in the region. He said he did not discuss those problems with Begin. “We are dealing mainly with the Arab-Israeli conflict…We’re really very busy with the most important negotiations that we are going to start regarding the full autonomy…I was very happy in EI Arish and Beersheba today (but) I am looking forward to the day when we reach agreement on the autonomy for the Western Bank and Gaza. “
ISRAEL FREES 16 PRISONERS
Sadat said he had not discussed the precise number of Palestinian political prisoners to be released by Israel as a good will gesture. ” The number is left to him (Begin). I am sure he will be very generous, ” Sadat said.
Less than 24 hours later, Israel announced the release of 16 Arabs who had been jailed on suspicion of terrorist acts. The group included ten persons detained on administrative orders but not sentenced and six who were sentenced to terms ranging from 2-5 years imprisonment. Seven of those released immediately crossed into Egyptian territory at EI Arish. The others have remained on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. There was speculation that an additional group of prisoners will also be released in accordance with Begin’s pledge.
With respect to air corridors, symbolically established by their flight, Sadat stressed that Israel’s national airline, EI AI and Egypt’s airline, Misr Air, would not be the first to use the corridor. He said that “perhaps” TWA, an American com pany would operate the service initially .Later specialists from Israel and Egypt would meet together to negotiate a civil aviation ogreement Sadat said.
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.
