Israeli Premier Menachem Begin warned the United States today that the sale of offensive arms to Egypt and other Arab countries will impede the current peace process. Begin, who was addressing a press conference in Geneva, arrived here this morning for a series of meetings with European Jewish leaders. He is due to address over 200 Jewish representatives from II West European countries tomorrow.
The Israeli Premier said he hoped the United States “will understand what effect this (the arms sales to Arab countries) can have on the negotiations.” He said that as far as Israel is concerned, “it will not be influenced by threats” such as those implied by arms demands. Begin said, “We are told that if we do not submit (to Arab demands) war will come. I want to stress that we shall not submit to any ultimatums.”
He reiterated Israel’s stand on the Palestinian issue. “Israel will never agree to the establishment of a so-called Palestinian state. They (the PLO) have been our most implacable enemy since the days of the Nazis. This issue (the Palestinians) is for us a matter of life and death.”
Begin stressed on several occasions during his press conference that “the peace-making process will go on.” He added that if the negotiations “are conducted with patience and in good faith, there is a good chance they will succeed.” He said he was fully aware of the urgency of the matter “but give us a chance to negotiate. Sixty years of mistrust cannot be settled in six hours nor in six days.”
The Premier said that one of the basic issues to be discussed now is the demilitarization of the Sinai. He said “Sadat gave me a formal pledge that the Egyptian troops will not cross the Gidi and the Mitle passes. He gave this pledge in Jerusalem. Since then, there have been various Egyptian interpretations but these do not fit with the promise given to me by Sadat.”
After addressing a lunch tomorrow at which some 200 European Jewish leaders are scheduled to participate within the framework of Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal, Begin will meet in the evening with members of the Geneva Jewish community. He is due to return to Israel on Friday. Begin himself said, in reply to questions, that he does not intend to meet with Sadat during his trip to Europe. Sadat will arrive in Europe tomorrow morning but he is not due to visit Switzerland.
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