Begin; Israel Will Stick to Its Own View of 242; Insists Israel Adheres to 242 and There is No Contr

Premier Menachem Begin reaffirmed in the Knesset today that Israel remains committed to United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 and continued to claim that there is no contradiction between the resolution and his peace plan. But last night, in an emotional appearance before the Likud Knesset faction, Begin insisted that Israel would stick to its own interpretation of 242 even if it is not shared by the rest of the world.

The Begin government’s contention that the resolution does not oblige Israel to make territorial withdrawals from the West Bank looms as a possible subject of confrontation between Begin and President Carter when they meet at the White House next week.

An American official said here yesterday that Washington “feels the positions of governments on international documents should, if possible, be consistent” and therefore Israel should abide by the interpretation of 242 applied “universally” in the past by the nations that sponsored it and by those states that accepted it which include Israel.

The official said that Israel’s current position denying the applicability of 242 to the West Bank was one of the “underlying problems” in the way of a joint declaration of principles acceptable to Egypt and Israel. He added, however, that Egypt’s demand for an Israeli commitment to total withdrawal from the occupied territories also constituted a key obstacle since Israel would not accept it and the U.S. would not support such a deep and. The official indicated that 242 would be the focus of attention in the Carter-Begin talks which, he said, would be “frank and thorough.”

ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT TO ITS VIEW

Although Begin reportedly reached an understanding with the American Administration, through Ambassador Samuel Lewis, to play down differences over 242 on the eve of his meeting with Carter, the Premier nevertheless heatedly defended his interpretation of that document in addressing the Likud MKs last night.

“There is an Arab interpretation to the resolution, there is a French interpretation and there is an American interpretation which the Arabs reject,” he said. “Why shouldn’t Israel have her interpretation? Has anybody said the Arab interpretation was an obstacle to peace?” he asked. He claimed that the Americans knew all along what Israel’s interpretation was but refrained from mentioning it until now.

SAYS CABINET WILL HAVE TO SHAPE UP

Begin insisted that the settlements issue was blown up out of proportion and vowed never to dismantle the Sinai settlements and never stop insisting on Israel’s right to protect them with its own forces. He alluded to the rift in his Cabinet over settlement policy and indicated anger toward ministers who questioned his policies.

“I suffer great pains when friends who went along with me for years now attack me, but I am willing to accept the suffering with love. On my grave one should write ‘he acted for an Israeli peace plan,'” Begin said. He also referred to enemies of the government who must be watched. He promised that when he returns from Washington he would “make order in the Cabinet within two weeks.” All ministers, he said, will have to abide by Cabinet resolutions.

BEGIN AND ALLON CLASH

At the Knesset this morning, Begin clashed angrily with former Foreign Minister Yigal Allon of the Labor Alignment. Allon submitted a motion to debate Begin’s impending visit to Washington. It was defeated by a vote of 51-31 but the Labor MK was sharply critical of the Begin government’s interpretation of Resolution 242. He said it was “surprising” in view of Begin’s assurances that Israel accepted the resolution. He said that while 242 was not his “dream document,” it was preferable to the present government’s interpretation as expressed on the West Bank.

Begin responded by attacking the so-called “Allon plan” for the West Bank, a proposal drafted by Allon after the Six-Day War. He called it a “childish” farce, noting that it was never accepted by the Arabs or by the U.S. He also castigated Allon for raising the issue of 242 just before his trip to Washington. Allon responded that “the government’s hard line may be disastrous for Israel.” He said “We should not be interested in governing 1.1 million Arabs and the world will never put up with it.”