Beigin Supports Government’s Continued Rejection of Egyptian Terms in Sinai

Menachem Beigin, leader of the Herut wing of Likud, expressed approval today of the Cabinet’s statement re-affirming Israel’s position of last March toward an interim agreement with Egypt. He said in a radio interview that he was encouraged by the govern- ment’s refusal to accept now the terms offered by Egypt which it rejected three months ago and observed that, judging from his recent visits abroad, Israel’s unity on this position was essential.

Beigin chose to ignore that portion of this morning’s Cabinet statement which said that Israel was prepared to re-examine its position on an interim accord if parallel changes in the Egyptian position developed. Beigin, who was asked what benediction he would give Premier Yitzhak Rabin prior to his meeting with President Ford later this week, replied, “My prayers and blessings are that there will be no change in the position set by the majority of the House (Knesset) to reject the Egyptian dictates.”

LIKUD SPLIT OVER ‘FROZEN’ POSITIONS

Likud, however, is by no means united over the question of an interim agreement which, in whatever form it takes, would result inevitably in further Israeli pullbacks in Sinai. The gap between Likud’s Liberal Party wing and Herut was evident at last night’s meeting of Likud’s executive to discuss political problems. While Beigin stressed Likud’s promise at the time the last national elections (Dec. 31, 1973) were held, that there would be no withdrawal from Sinai before a final peace settlement is reached, Liberal leader Elimelech Rimalt expressed a different view.

He said he could not be a party to “frozen” positions that took no cognizance of changed conditions and circumstances. He urged Likud to revise its attitude toward an interim accord since a full settlement could be achieved now only if Israel were to return to its pre-June 1967 borders, a condition to which no one agrees.