George Bush, United States Ambassador to the United Nations said today that Israel had nothing to fear from the Four Power talks because they are not intended, under any circumstances, as a means of coercion. He said that the Four Power talks, by their very existence, were important, and added that there were “deep going differences of opinion” between the U.S. and the Soviet Union but, “as long as we can go on talking, we shall not break off contact.” The Ambassador stated that “I believe, we (the U.S.) have now come to a better understanding of the Israeli’s feelings towards these talks, and we are firmly determined not to allow these talks to injure that which we consider basic: a peace agreement between the parties.” As long as the U.S. is taking part in these talks, Israel need not worry, Bush said, adding: “I can quite well understand it when an Israeli thinks ‘Why should for foreign powers decide on our fate?’ I can reassure the Israeli people that the talks are not concerned with this question at all-and it will not be so concerned as long as we are participating.” Bush said he believes that the U.S. is able to project one or another issue in a way that “conforms to Israel’s interest.” Bush’s views were expressed in an interview today with Yediot Aharonot.
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