Israel may face an unexpected diplomatic demarche by Egypt when Foreign Minister Kamal Hassan Ali comes here tomorrow on an unscheduled visit with “an urgent message” from President Hosni Mubarak to Premier Menachem Begin. It is expected to focus on the differences between Israel and Egypt over the Iraq-Iran war and on means for resuming the autonomy negotiations. Voice of Israel Radio reported today.
News of Hassan Ali’s visit took official circles here by surprise, especially since a top level Egyptian diplomat. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Butros Gholi, is already in Israel, though not in his official capacity. The Israeli Ambassador in Cairo, Moshe Sasson, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry there yesterday to be informed of Hassan Ali’s mission. But he was, reportedly, given little information as to what prompted it.
Ghali is visiting at the head of a delegation representing Egypt’s ruling National Democratic Party, invited here by Israel’s Labor Party. He paid a “courtesy call” on Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir yesterday. Officials said today that the need to send Hassan Ali on a separate mission with Mubarak’s message indicated the importance the Egyptians attach to it.
EGYPT CONCERNED BY ARMS FOR IRAN
The Egyptians apparently are concerned over Israel’s open support for Iran in the Persian Gulf war and its admitted sole of “small quantities” of arms to that country. Egypt favors Iraq. A hint of what Mubarak’s message may contain was seen in remarks made by former Egyptian Prime Minister Mustapha Khalil, a member of Ghali’s delegation, who attended the meeting with Shamir yesterday. (See separate story.)
Khalil, deputy chairman of the National Democratic Party, said Israel and Egypt should consult each other on the Persian Gulf war and that, in general, a dialogue on regional issues should be part of the peace relations between the two countries.
Egypt is believed to be concerned that an Iranian victory over Iraq might engulf the Arab world in a wave of Islamic extremism propagated by the regime of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which could destabilize the moderate Arab governments. The Israelis hold that while Khomeini is as much their enemy as Saddam Hussein of Iraq, the Iraqis pose a greater danger to Israel at this time and are more likely to destabilize the region than the Teheran government.
Another issue expected to be raised in Mubarak’s message is the proposal to hold a summit meeting in Washington later this month at which Israel, Egypt and the U.S. would try to reach agreement on a formula for resumption of the autonomy talks. Begin will be in the U.S. to address the United Nations disarmament conference on June 18. He has been invited by President Reagan to lunch at the White House on June 21. The U.S. reportedly would invite Mubarak to Washington at the same time for a meeting of the three leaders.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
