The personal representative of prospective Israeli Premier Menachem Begin outlined today Israel’s future course for a Middle East settlement that appeared strikingly similar to the positions taken by Jerusalem governments since the Six-Day War.
Shmuel Katz, the likely Minister of Information in Israel’s next government, said that “any government headed by Begin will accept United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 in all its parts and abide by that resolution in the terms of the interpretation given to it by successive Israeli governments.” He stressed that “what the government will not agree to is to be pushed or squeezed into interpretations by the Arabs–or the French or Soviets for that matter. Begin is prepared, as previous Israeli leaders, to meet with leaders of the Arab states at any time, anywhere to conduct negotiations. What will be done or not done will be decided in negotiations,” Katz said.
PREFERS U.S. AS ‘INTERMEDIARY’ IN MIDEAST
He said the “intransigent refusal” of the Arabs to accept Israel’s sovereignty “is so deep it may take some time” for adjustment. “It may depend on the skill of the intermediary,” he observed. He commended the American government’s “skillful” role and stressed that Israel “would prefer the intermediary task to be performed by the U.S. government.” Asked what would happen if the U.S. insists on Israeli withdrawals to its 1967 borders, Katz replied, “This will pose a tremendous dilemma to Israel” because that would be tantamount to “induced suicide.”
Katz made his points at a news conference with a large group of American and foreign diplomatic correspondents arranged by Foreign Policy Magazine. He come here as Begin’s “personal representative and not as a representative of a government that does not yet exist.” In the next two weeks he will meet with members of Congress and hopefully also with Zbigniew Brzezinsky, chairman of the National Security Council. But so far, he said, he has not arranged meetings with U.S. officials. He also will visit with Jewish communal leaders in New York and Washington.
‘FRUITFUL’ BEGIN-CARTER DIALOGUE SEEN
Ruling out any dealings with the PLO or a Palestinian state, Katz refused to be drawn into discussing possibilities of compromise on the West Bank. He said he could not suggest that any party enter negotiations by making concessions “to the media or anyone else except the people it is negotiating with.” He stressed, however, that “Begin is prepared to negotiate without prior conditions” adding “Why should he say now what he is going and not going to concede? Maybe he can make other concessions.”
Katz was pressed about President Carter’s recent statements on a Palestine homeland and compensation for Palestinians. Katz said “We sense a certain puzzlement from some declarations from the White House.” He expressed hope that within a few weeks Begin will visit Washington. “I have no doubt” he said “these questions will find expression in dialogue and I am sure it will be a fruitful dialogue.”
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