U.S. Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger is believed here to be concentrating solely on immediate cease-fire problems in his current round of talks in Arab capitals. But reports persist that the American diplomat has drawn up a six-point long-range plan to serve as the basis for Arab-Israeli peace negotiations. According to a version published today in the Beirut newspaper, Al Anwar, the Kissinger plan calls for substantial Israeli withdrawals from Arab territories and the establishment of demilitarized areas under UN auspices.
Of more immediate consequences, however-sources here believe that Kissinger is proposing to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat means for Egypt to pull back its encircled Third Army from the east bank of the Suez Canal without forsaking its honor in return for Israeli concessions. Some observers believe he is proposing that the Third Army withdraw with all of its arms and equipment intact, thus averting the stigma of surrender. Other sources say he will raise an Israeli proposal for a mutual pullback of all Israeli and Egyptian forces from both banks of the Suez Canal and the establishment of a demilitarized zone there policed by the UN Emergency Force (UNEF).
6-POINT PROGRAM OUTLINED
Most analysts here agree with reports from Cairo that the Kissinger talks are crucial and that his success or failure could mean either a move forward toward peace negotiations or a resumption of warfare. The alleged six-point Kissinger plan, according to Al Anwar, contains the following proposals:
Israel would withdraw completely from the Sinai peninsula and the whole area would be restored to Egyptian sovereignty after it is demilitarized; Sharm el Sheikh would be placed under international control; Palestinians in the Gaza Strip would decide by referendum whether to form an independent state with the West Bank of the Jordan or federate with Egypt or Jordan. Israel would be guaranteed free passage through international waterways, including the Suez Canal; and the Arab (cast) sector of Jerusalem would remain under Israeli sovereignty.
In addition, border rectifications would be made on the West Bank with Israel keeping the strategic areas of Hebron and Qalqilya and the rest becoming an independent, demilitarized Palestinian state; Israel would withdraw from the Golan Heights which would be demilitarized and restored to Syria but with UN emergency forces permanently stationed there.
Israel, meanwhile, is continuing to allow food and water-supplies to reach the encircled Egyptian Third Army and is expected to continue to do so, at least as long as Kissinger is engaged in talks with Arab leaders. Informed sources here say that Israel’s readiness to permit the convoys to pass through its lines gives Kissinger grounds for maneuver in the Arab capitals and to argue that Israel is demonstrating flexibility.
But if Kissinger fails to get Arab agreement to a mutual pullback and on other cease-fire problems, mainly the prisoner of war issue, Israel is determined to maintain its encirclement of the Third Army, sources here said.
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