Begin Denies Concessions from Sadat Regarding Sinai, Rafah Settlements

Premier Menachem Begin denied today that President Anwar Sadat has made any concessions with respect to the Jewish settlements in the Rafah salient of Sinai which must be evacuated within three years under terms of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty. He said rumors to that effect were “without foundation.”

Begin, who spoke to reporters after briefing President Yitzhak Navon on his two-day visit to Cairo this week, was referring to reports that Sadat may have relented in his demands for the total withdrawal of Israeli civilians from Sinai. While Begin and Sadat were in Washington for the peace treaty signing, the settlers in Yamit proposed that they be allowed to remain there as Israeli citizens after the region is returned to Egyptian sovereignty. They cabled Begin to arrange a meeting for them with Sadat on this matter.

Begin said today, “I can well understand the feelings of the Rafah settlers, but we did everything possible to achieve peace out of concern for them and their children. I can only say once again that this was the only possible way to achieve peace with Egypt. Without this (giving up the settlements) there would be no peace with Egypt” because they would not give up one inch of their land, Begin said.

He disclosed that Sadat made one minor concession during their talks in Cairo this week, Sadat agreed to allow the settlers of Neot Sinai, near EI Arish, to retain their laundry building until the final phase of withdrawals three years. Israeli troops will withdraw from EI Arish on May 25 and the town which is the administrative capital of Sinai, will be returned to Egypt on the following day. (In Washington, the State Department announced today that. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance will join President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Begin when they meet in EI Arish May 27.)