Premier Menachem Begin denied today that Israel is seeking a separate peace with Egypt and declared that on the contrary, it wants a comprehensive settlement with all of its neighbors. But he opposes an agreement with Egypt that depends on the “whim” of Israel’s opponents like President Hofez Assad of Syria, Begin said in reply to questions on the ABC-TV “Issues and Answers” program.
He pointed out in that connection that the U.S. has not been able to persuade Syria or Jordan to join the peace process even though America provides Jordan with weapons. Because of this factor “we must be very careful” about a treaty with Egypt, he said.
Begin was interviewed less than two hours before going to the White House to continue his discussions with President Carter which began shortly after his arrival in Washington Thursday. He said that.” some progress” has been made in the current round of Israeli-American negotiations on the issues blocking a peace treaty.
At the same time, Carter told reporters after attending church that he and Begin failed to make progress last night, when they conferred formally for the third time since Begin arrived here last Thursday, on the impasse of the Israeli-Egyptian negotiation.
BEGIN REPORTS SOME PROGRESS
Begin, in his television interview, specified that the progress was on one of the articles in the American draft treaty that Israel approved last November but was not accepted by Egypt. This is Article IV which provides for a review of the treaty by both countries five years after it is signed. Begin made it clear, however, that he was adamantly opposed to Egypt’s position on Article VI which would give the treaty with Israel priority over previous treaties Egypt has concluded with other Arab states affecting Israel.
No specific mention was made during the interview of the “linkage” Issue tying an Israeli Egyptian treaty to implementation of autonomy for the Palestinians on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. But Begin indicated that Israel would keep Jewish settlements in those territories and that autonomy for the Palestinians would be such that a “so called Palestinian state” would “never” arise According to Begin, such a state would be a “mortal danger to us” and also would be a Soviet base in the center of the Middle East and a danger to the whole free world.
Begin said, “We have already proved we are sincere in our wish for peace, a comprehensive treaty. Why do we have to prove love for peace? Let them get rid of their suspicions. This was apparently a reference to those who say Israel menaces its Arab neighbors.
DISAGREES THAT IT IS NOW OR NEVER
Reminded that he said after the Camp David summit conference last September that a peace treaty could be signed in less than three months Begin told he was a “born optimist” and that his view now is that we only have to continue our talks.” He said “nations should not get nervous when negotiations reach a crisis. I believe we should overcome our difficulties.” He said he did not agree that it is “now or never” for a peace agreement.
Begin also noted that President Anwar Sadat of Egypt will be coming to the U.S. next month to receive an honorary doctorate, suggesting possibly that it might be an opportunity for talks between him and President Carter on treaty matters.
At one point Begin was asked if he was “not haunted that one day there will be Arab unity” and a “well organized effort against Israel.” He replied, “I’ve heard that for 30 years. I am not frightened. We shall not ask for a single American soldier. We shall sustain our independence. We have a wonderful young generation. We hate war; we want peace. We hate bloodshed. Ultimately we should find understanding.”
Asked if he considered Carter to be an “honest broker,” Begin said the President is “an honest man. He is my friend.” Asked if he thought the President is “objective,” Begin said: “There was a time when the American delegation took Egypt’s side” but he did not elaborate.
When he was asked if his friendship with Carter continues in this “crisis,” he replied, “We’ll have another meeting today.” He said that in their talks so far the President “listened attentively. I hope he understood” Israel’s position, Begin said, adding, “We had very friendly talks in Washington.”
White House officials sought to persuade the Israeli Premier not to appear on the ABC interview program because of the Carter Administration’s view that the issues involving the Camp David accords should not be discussed publicly by the leaders lest they affect negotiations.
HECTIC ROUND OF MEETINGS
Begin and Carter met for two hours Thursday night and again Friday morning in a session that ran for 2 1/2 hours, an hour longer than scheduled. Apparently for that reason, a further meeting scheduled for Friday afternoon was cancelled. The White House issued a statement Friday saying that “the talks were conducted in an atmosphere of friendship and candor” and that they “included a detailed and comprehensive discussion of the unresolved issues in the implementation of the Camp David accords.”
Begin is scheduled to appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee at noon tomorrow and before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at 4 p.m. The Israeli Embassy here could not say whether any further meetings between Begin and Carter were scheduled after their talks this afternoon. Begin is to go to New York tomorrow evening and will remain there until he leaves for Israel on Thursday.
REACTIONS IN JERUSALEM, CAIRO
(In Jerusalem today, Acting Premier Yigael Yadin said on an Army Radio interview that Begin has finished clarifying Israel’s position to Carter and is now awaiting American proposals for continuation of the peace talks. He said the next stage in the process would be determined by what the U.S. proposes. He described the atmosphere of the White House talks as “good” and said there was “understanding in the analysis of the situation.” He
(Dan Pattir, Begin’s press officer who is with the Premier, insisted in an Israel Radio interview from Washington last night that the talks were by no means a failure and were not deadlocked. He also rejected the description of the present talks as “the last chance for the peace negotiations.” He said the round of conversations was being used to the best advantage by the Israeli delegation and that there was no crisis in U.S.-Israeli relations. “This is quite a solid impression,” Pattir said.)
(Reports from Cairo today said Sadat met with U.S. Ambassador Hermann Eilts to receive a message from Carter and was quoted as telling report
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