None of the Arab states has responded so far to the working paper on Geneva conference procedures drafted by Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan and Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. While U.S. officials have expressed fear that Syria may turn it down flatly, Egypt’s position appears to be evolving in favor of radical amendments rather than outright rejection of the document.
Cairo favors the first point which provides for a unified Arab delegation “which will include Palestinian Arabs” at the Geneva conference opening. But it has serious reservations over the remaining five points contained in the working paper, according to the Jerusalem Post’s Arab affairs editor, Anan Safadi.
In a front page analysis in the Post today, Safadi noted that the second point has the conference splitting into working groups after the opening ses- sion for “negotiation and conclusion of peace treaties.” Egypt wants the unified Arab team to attend all working sessions and also seeks prior recognition by Israel of the “legitimate national rights” of the Palestinian people, opening the door to the discussion of a Palestinian state, Safadi wrote. Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan has already given notice that Israel will walk out of the conference if the issue of a Palestinian state is brought up.
Point three would have Israel, Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinians “discuss” the West Bank and Gaza. According to Safadi, Egypt objects to the word “discuss” on which Israel insisted to denote something less than negotiations. Egypt wants the UN General Assembly resolutions that acknowledge the Palestinians’ right to self-determination to be the basis for the work of this group, Safadi reported.
ISSUE OF JEWISH, ARAB REFUGEES
The fourth point calls for the problem of Jewish and Arab refugees to be discussed “in accordance with terms to be agreed upon.” Egypt insists that the Palestinian issue must be negotiated separately. It says that the question of compensation for Jewish emigres from Arab countries can be dealt with along with Arab monetary claims on Israel, such as Israel’s use of the Abu Rodeis oil fields in Sinai and the closure of the Suez Canal.
The fifth point reiterates that Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 are the bases of the Geneva conference. Egypt, however, wants 242 amended to include a Palestinian entity. It says both the U.S. and the Soviet Union could subscribe to this on the basis of their public statements.
The sixth point stresses that the conference’s original terms of reference remain in force unless the parties agree to changes. Egyptian news media have called this point “irrelevant,” apparently in light of Cairo’s reservations on the other points. There are also indications that the Egyptians will urge greater involvement by the conference cochairmen, the U.S. and USSR, in the substance of negotiations, Safadi said. Israel is opposed to such involvement.
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