Foreign Minister Yigal Allon told the Knesset today that Israel has received a satisfactory explanation from the United States of the joint American-Jordanian communique of Aug. 18. He said the explanation was in response to an Israeli message requesting clarification. The communique by President Ford and King Hussein called for continuing consultations between Amman and Washington “with a view to addressing at an appropriately early date the issues of particular concern to Jordan, including a Jordanian-Israeli disengagement agreement.”
Allon did not disclose the contents of the American explanation, but he quoted Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger’s remark at a press conference in Washington last week to the effect that there were different versions of disengagement.
The Knesset, officially in summer recess, convened in special session today at the demand of the opposition parties. Allon spoke in reply to a Likud agenda motion concerning the U.S.-Jordanian communique. MK Haim Landau, who introduced the motion, accused Kissinger of acting against Israeli interests and accused the Israeli government of responding blindly to the distastes of Washington.
REAFFIRMS U.S.-ISRAEL FRIENDSHIP
He was referring to Kissinger’s announcement a week ago that Premier Yitzhak Rabin would come to Washington in the first part of Sept. although at the time no date had been set and the Rabin Cabinet had not yet approved the visit. Israelis considered this high handed but Allon dismissed the incident today as inconsequential. He said that “when the time comes to argue with the U.S. we shall argue” on more substantive issues. He described Kissinger as a “true friend” of Israel who has proven his friendship in times of need, “although it is true that he is the Secretary of State of the U.S. and not of Israel.”
Allon said that while he was not always happy with Kissinger’s moves, “this is the nature of productive statesmanship.” He added, “If we are faced with another war, we shall not find any closer and stronger friend than the Americans.” The Knesset voted overwhelmingly to refer the agenda motion to its foreign affairs and security committee.
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