Premier Menachem Begin won an overwhelming vote of confidence from the Herut central committee last night after he declared that he was ready to sign a peace treaty with Egypt on the basis of the Camp David accords but absolutely rejected all subsequent proposals and demands by the Egyptians (See related story P. 3.)
The vote — 306-51 — was as much a personal endorsement of the Premier as it was an expression of approval for his policies. In fact, strong criticism was voiced during the discussion that preceded the voting by a minority of Herut members who remain unreconciled to the Camp David agreements and see them as a dire peril to Israel. But Begin easily carried the vast majority of Herut.
He said that when the Cabinet convenes tomorrow to debate the latest developments in the negotiations with Egypt he would recommend that it reject Egypt’s demands for a precise timetable for carrying out autonomy on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He rejected, he said, all Egyptian demands for linkage between a peace treaty and the Camp David frame-work for those territories. But he would recommend, he said, that the Cabinet withdraw its earlier objections to the draft treaty preamble that refers to “linkage,” but only in a general way.
SADAT: SPECIFIC DATE OR NO TREATY
(In a French television interview, pre-recorded in Cairo for broadcast in Paris tonight, President Anwar Sadat said he would not sign a peace treaty with Israel unless it is linked to a specific date for the start of Palestinian self-rule (autonomy) on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He said this should coincide with the completion of the first phase of the Israeli withdrawal from Sinai, 6-9 months after a treaty is signed.
(Sadat said, “I will not insist on a specific date for holding elections in the two areas because that will happen automatically. What I care for is the date for the beginning of self-rule.” He noted that Israel refuses to commit itself to specific dates but has agreed to begin negotiations on autonomy one month after a peace treaty is signed. Sadat said he insists on a specific date “because it (negotiations) may take two years and I insist on spelling out the date just to avoid that.”)
OPPONENTS LASH OUT AT BEGIN
The party stalwarts voted on a wave of emotion, heightened by the fierce demonstration of anti-treaty sentiment that had greeted Begin’s arrival at party headquarters here earlier in the evening. His limousine was pelted with eggs and tomatoes as it drew up to Jabotinsky House where hundreds milled around, some of them breaking through police barriers. They were mainly settlers from the occupied territories, advocates of Greater Israel and disciples of the Gush Emunim.
They shouted “traitor” and “sell-out” at Begin and waved signs saying “Jabotinsky not Brzezinski” and “We voted Herut, Not Sheli.” Defense Minister Ezer Weizman, who arrived at the meeting 45 minutes later, was subjected to the same angry demonstration as were several other Herut ministers.
Begin was visibly shaken and furious when he entered the hall. His audience was stunned by his description of what was transpiring outside, especially the epithet “traitor” hurled at their leader. Begin declared that no one would teach him the legacy of Ze’ev Jabotinsky, the founding father of Herut, or the meaning of “Eretz Israel.”
He said that “all my years I tried to bring peace to Israel. My enemies lied and presented me as a man of war. The opposite is true. It is therefore that I saw it my duty to bring peace to Israel. I think we shall do wisely if we sign a peace agreement with all the hardships that it entails. But will the other side do the same? We do not know. But we made the effort.”
Begin said he would sign a peace treaty with Egypt on three conditions: that the Israeli army remains on the West Bank and Gaza Strip as agreed to at Camp David; that Israel’s security is ensured; and that Jewish settlement activity in the territories continues. He also hinted that if he failed to win a substantial majority in his party he would “draw the consequences” — an apparent threat to resign from office.
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