Autonomy Talks Mark Time

The autonomy talks in Herzliya marked time today as the Israeli, Egyptian and American negotiators held “informal meetings” in an effort to end the impasse over the security issue on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Following one “Informal” session this morning, the delegations held separate consultations but it remained uncertain when the next negotiating round will take place.

Interior Minister Yosef Burg, head of the Israeli negotiating team, tended to play down the seriousness of the situation. “I believe that informal meetings can be more important than formal ones,” he told reporters. “There are no formal negotiations but in any case we know what the Egyptians think and they know what we think,” he said.

The Egyptians were reported yesterday as refusing to agree to the start of formal sessions until Israel drops what Cairo calls its “precondition” that security in the autonomous territories be recognized in advance as exclusively an Israeli responsibility. The Egyptians contend that the Camp David agreements call for the security interests of all parties to be taken into account. They argue that this implies that security matters be negotiated, not unilaterally determined by Israel on the basis of its perceived security requirements.

If anything the Israeli position has hardened in the aftermath of the terrorist killings of Jews in Hebron last Friday. This was indicated by the remarks of Defense Minister Ezer Weizman and Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir who insisted that the attack only confirmed Israel’s point of view — that security remain entirely in its hands.

U.S. special Ambassador Sol Linowitz tried to convey the impression that the differences between Israel and Egypt over security are not insurmountable. In a television interview over the weekend; after the Hebron killings, he said that all parties agreed that Israel’s security must be maintained and strengthened. At issue is only the role of the “strong local police force” that the Camp David agreements call for to be set up along side Israeli security forces, he said.

News reports said that if there is no break through soon in the current round of talks, Egypt’s chief negotiator, Prime Minister Mustapha Khalil would return to Cairo to consult with President Anwar Sadat. If there is a breakthrough, or if the three parties agree to continue their informal discussions, the negotiations are expected to continue in Herzliya until Wednesday or Thursday, as per the original schedule and reconvene in Alexandria next week.

Meanwhile, the death of Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia was the official reason given why Egyptian Ambassador Saad Mortada cancelled a reception he was to have held for Khalil at the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel today. Egypt has begun a seven-day morning period for the Yugoslav leader. The Egyptian Embassy announced that the reception would be held on May 14. But political observers did not rule out a possible connection between the postponement and the difficulties encountered in the autonomy talks.