Premier Menachem Begin used the escalating crisis between Britain and Argentina over the Falkland lslands to admonish the British government today “not to demand” that Israel surrender territory it occupies.
The Falkland Islands conflict was discussed during today’s Cabinet session where the ministers took note that Britain was ready to fight over a crown colony 8000 miles from its shores.
“This being so,” said Begin, “we have the right to expect our friends, in England and elsewhere, will better understand, and will not demand of us further that we surrender to foreign rule parts of our homeland that are located less than one mile from our capital city, and but a few miles from most of population centers.”
At today’s Cabinet session, Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir briefed the ministers on the visits here last week of British Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington and Australian Foreign Minister Anthony Street. Defense Minister Ariel Sharon reviewed the situation on the West Bank and Golan Heights. The Cabinet decided to lift the restrictions imposed on the Druze population because order has been restored on the Golan Heights.
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