Arens: Egypt’s Continuation of the Peace Process After April 25 Depends a ‘good Deal’ on the U.S.

Israeli Ambassador Moshe Arens said last night that a “good deal” depends on the United States as to whether Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak continues the peace process with Israel after Egypt regains the Sinai April 25.

“If it is clear to Egypt, to Mubarak, that he will compromise his relationship with the United States if he abandons the peace process, then I think there is a good chance that he will continue that process,” Arens said in an interview on ABC-TV’s “Nightline.”

The envoy stressed that Israel has no intention of moving into Lebanon, despite constant reports it will do so soon, “unless there is a violation” of the cease-fire by the Palestine Liberation Organization. He explained that such a violation would be an attack on Israeli civilians.

Arens noted that special United States envoy Philip Habib had assured Israel that the cease-fire, which has been in effect since last July, applies to all of Israel’s borders and not just with Lebanon. He noted that PLO leader Yasir Arafat, in an interview on “Nightline” Tuesday night, said the cease-fire applied only to the Israeli-Lebanese border.

SAYS TERRORISTS ARE INCREASING THEIR WEAPONS

Arens said he believed that it is only a matter of time before the PLO commits a violation which would require Israeli retaliation. “I hope I am wrong, “he said. But he noted that the terrorists forces now have some 15,000 men in Lebanon and have been increasing their weapons since the cease-fire began. He noted that Arafat is only the “godfather” of a “terrorist Mafia” in which any of eight separate groups, each controlled by various anti-Israel countries, could action its own.

Arens said that Israel has been cooperating with Habib and has been assured that Habib will be successful not only in getting the Syrian SAM-6 missiles out of central Lebanon but also removing the Syrian army from Lebanon. He said that 70 percent of Lebanon is controlled by the Syrians and the PLO. The “worst sufferers” have been the Lebanese people, the envoy said.

AN OFFER PALESTINIANS CAN’T REFUSE

On the negotiations for autonomy for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Arens said he hoped an agreement could be worked out. Arens noted that Judaea and Samaria has been under Israeli military rule for 15 years, a condition which, he said, is “distasteful” both to the people who live there and to the Israeli government. “Israel has made an offer which, in my opinion, really cannot be refused by the Palestinian Arabs,” he said.

He said the Israeli offer of autonomy goes a long way to even “the announced goals” of the Palestinians. But if they refuse to negotiate, either because they are “foolhardy” or because they are afraid of threats from Arafat and his terrorists, then Israel should go ahead and extend civilian authority to the areas as it did for the Golan Heights.

But he stressed, as Premier Menachem Begin made it clear in the Golan Heights situation, such a move would not foreclose any future negotiations and would leave all options open.