The weekly Cabinet session next Sunday is expected to see the start of a bitter debate between “hawks” and “doves” in the government over what concessions Israel should offer in a new round of negotiations with Egypt, That problem was not resolved before Foreign Minister Yigal Allon went to Washington for his latest meetings with American leaders, including President Ford, Vice President Nelson A, Rockefeller, Secretary of State Henry A, Kissinger and Defense Secretary James R. Schlesinger.
Allon, who returned last night reiterated that he had not drawn any maps of possible Israeli withdrawals in Sinal and had conveyed no new Israeli proposals to Washington, He said his meetings there had dealt largely with procedures for new talks with Egypt on a second stage settlement, He said there was no alternative to proper talks according to procedures accepted by all sides and without pre-conditions, he told reporters at Ben Gurion Airport that the chances of second stage talks with Egypt would be clarified “in the not too distant future.”
Allon was apparently referring to Kissinger’s return trip to the Middle East, probably next month, for a further round of “shuttle diplomacy” Beyond that , the Foreign Minister had little to say that he hadn’t said before he left for the U.S. Allon is expected to report to the various ministers concerned on his Washington talks during the balance of this week and to submit a full official report to the Cabinet next Sunday.
NO MOVES UNTIL KISSINGER ARRIVES
The cabinet has yet to decide what Israel can gain from a new round of talks with the Egyptians and what it must offer. These are delicates matters which are expected to take 2-3 weeks to resolve, meanwhile, it is generally agreed that no new moves will be made in the Middle East until Kissinger comes to the region,
Allon is expected to be questioned sharply on reports that the U.S. has recently begun to give Israel difficulties in carrying out economic accords already agreed to and singed by the two countries, A Foreign ministry official noted that some provisions of theses agreement simply must wait their turn in the American legislative process.
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