Begin; Israel and Egypt Are on the Side of Right Not Wrong

Israeli Egyptian agreement on the issues involved in the Iranian and Afghanistan crises should serve as “a foundation of good will, cooperation and understanding on which we shall build in the future.” This was the central message of Premier Menachem Begin’s public remarks at a dinner here last night following the first working session of his summit with President Anwar Sodat.

“Thank God.” said Begin, “Israel and Egypt are on the side of right, not wrong: justice, not its opposite; freedom, not slavery” in the face of these two setbacks for the West. But there was no indication from either Begin or Sodat, or their aides, that the shared outlook would express itself in specific operational terms in the immediate future.

On the bilateral issues between the two countries, it was Sodat who set the tone in his after dinner comments when he said that “We have over come in the past much more difficulties than we are facing now.”

The two leaders seemed relaxed and at ease in each other’s company during a dinner given by the Sadats for the Begins at the Israeli Premier’s Hotel. They exchanged banter freely, and even at moments when the conversation stalled, there was none of the fidgety awkwardness between them that characterized their earlier encounters.

At their 50-minute meeting earlier yesterday, which Begin described as “a kind of tour d’horizon,” the two leaders discussed regional and global developments and put off until today a detailed review of the outstanding bilateral questions: autonomy and normalization. But it seemed clear already that when they do take up the bilateral matters, Begin and Sodat will seek to avoid confrontation, and will resort once more to the device of “agreeing to disagree” on issues still in dispute.

Sodat was pointedly positive in his references at the dinner address to the “progress that has been achieved.” Continuing, he declared:

“We both agreed that if anyone had told either of us three years ago that all this would be achieved today, neither I nor my dear friend Menachem Begin, the Prime Minister of Israel, could have believed it…

“Thanks to God and to the efforts and genuineness of such leaders as Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter, we have reached this point… We have laid the cornerstone for a just and comprehensive settlement and for peace to prevail forever.” It would be “only a matter of time.” Sodat asserted, before others joined the peace process. “History never goes back, “he assured.

A DAY OF SIGHTSEEING

The sightseeing part of Begin’s stay in upper Egypt began this morning with a somewhat hurried visit to the famed temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbet. The Premier, due to meet with Sodat in Aswan at midday, allowed himself only a brief half-hour to take in the wonders of this ancient site, 200 miles south of here.

Begin listened without reaching to the erudite explanations offered by the enthusiastic young curator of Abu Simbel, Dr. Atef Abu Dahab. His wife, Aliza, though, showed lively interest in the artistic and mythological significance of the rich has reliefs that adorn the temples. Later, she invited Dr. Abu Dahab to visit Israel and see the archaeological excavations there.

Aliza begin was especially fascinated by Abu Dahab’s account of the precision geometry and astronomy of the ancient Egyptians, whereby they ensured in the building of the temple that the sun’s rays shone into the truly of holies precisely on the day of the King-God’s birthday.

Asked to sum up his impressions after the tour, Begin said, “This is a pagan temple, 3500 years old, and we have seen with great admiration all that they built. This is Egypt.”

Begin and his party were flown to Abu Simbel and back aboard Sadat’s Boeing 737 jet. Accompanying them were Egyptian Housing Minister Ahmed Hifnawi and his wife who have been delegated as the Begins’ official hosts during this visit. Yesterday afternoon, following his lunchtime working session with Sodat, the Premier and his party toured the Aswan High Dam.