Premier Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat met for 90 minutes in a private summit conversation in this resort town, due to be handed back to the Egyptians next year, and both leaders expressed sat is faction with their talk. Both hailed the Israel-Egypt peace treaty and the Camp David accords as the only stable factor in a turbulent Middle East.
Begin agreed to Sadat’s suggestion that U.S. special envoy Philip Habib should be given more time to try and solve the Syrian missile crisis by diplomatic means, though Begin indicated he was not prepared to give him the open-ended opportunity Sadat suggested. Begin also rejected Sadat’s request that Israel halt its bombing and raids on terrorist bases in Lebanon, explaining that these were essential to ensure Israel’s security.
The Ofira summit was held in tight security and covered by hundreds of newsmen from Israel, Egypt and correspondents from North America and Europe. Although Begin and his Likud colleagues deny that the Premier requested the summit for political purposes, it will obviously figure large in the Likud alliance campaign, which is concentrating on the peace treaty with Egypt.
SADAT MEETS SETTLERS
Police and security forces made every effort to prevent any demonstrations during Sadat’s visit to Ofira. But a group of Jewish settlers due to move out of Sinai next year, demonstrated with posters, none of which were seen by either Sadat or Begin. Sadat met later with Ofira residents who asked permission to remain there when the Egyptians take over. He told them that under the peace agreement all Israelis must leave the area, though some arrangements might be made for some of them at least to return there later to continue in tourist projects in cooperation with the Egyptians.
SYRIANS CONDEMNED
At a press conference following their meeting, Begin and Sadat both condemned Syria’s presence in Lebanon as the cause of that country’s turbulence and of the present crisis in the area. Begin announced at the outset of the press conference that he and Sadat hope to meet again in Alexandria soon. Earlier, in a luncheon toast, Begin said that meeting would take place by next month. Begin announced that they had reached “important agreements and serious solutions” during their meeting here but would not disclose the content of those agreements or the problems to which “solutions” had been found.
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.
