The U.S. Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd of West Virginia, met with Premier Menachem Begin for two hours here today. He told reporters afterwards that he is confident Begin is determined to “continue with the brave task which was begun at Camp David.”
Byrd, visiting the Middle East as President Carter’s “special envoy,” met with President Anwar Sadat in Cairo yesterday and will meet with King Hussein of Jordan before he returns to Washington to report to the President. His meeting with Begin was attended by the U.S. Ambassador, Samuel Lewis.
Byrd is believed to have conveyed a message from Sadat containing Egypt’s latest proposal for changes in the draft peace treaty that Israel accepted. No further details of the meeting were disclosed. When he left Cairo this morning, the Senate leader told reporters that Sadat wanted to resume the peace negotiations but he made no statement on his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport.
After his meeting with Begin, Byrd explained that as a special emissary of the President he preferred to keep the details of their talk confidential. However, he said, “I am convinced and encouraged by my discussions with Prime Minister Begin that he is dedicated to pursue and conclude the negotiations.”
He acknowledged that the U.S. differs with Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan’s “take it or leave it” position on the draft peace treaty and believed that a date should be set for elections on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
BEGIN: ISRAEL NOT PRESSING FOR SEPARATE PEACE
Begin, who also spoke to reporters after the meeting, agreed with Byrd that peace negotiations should be continued and denied that Israel was pressing for a separate peace with Egypt. He said that neither Syria, Lebanon or Jordan are interested in the peace process and the West Bank and Gaza residents are not willing to hold elections. He said he based his assessment on information from U.S. special ambassador Alfred L. Atherton and Assistant Secretary of State Harold Saunders. Consequently, Begin said he told Byrd, the peace talks with Egypt are the only channel open to Israel “and we are interested in keeping the channel open.” Byrd is scheduled to meet with Dayan before he leaves for
BEGIN, SADAT TO MEET IN OSLO
It was reported here, meanwhile, that Begin and Sadat will make a final effort to reach agreement on a peace treaty when they meet in Oslo to accept the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize 10 days from now. According to press reports today, the two leaders would meet several times in Oslo, where, it is hoped, the nature of the occasion will help them bridge the gaps that have stalled the peace talks. According to the reports, their objective is to sign a treaty by Dec. 17, three months to the day after they signed the Camp David accords.
It is believed here that Egypt will accept the American compromise proposal committing both sides to negotiate implementation of the autonomy scheme on the West Bank and Gaza Strip with the end of 1979 as the “target date” for elections in those territories. Israel has said it is prepared to start negotiations shortly after a treaty is signed but rejects any pre-fixed date for holding elections. Sources here said yesterday that Israel would insist on the establishment of diplomatic relations with Egypt before any elections are held. This would effectively avoid linkage.
Political circles here are reportedly considering a compromise whereby Israel and Egypt would agree to link the elections to the establishment of diplomatic relations by a mutually agreed date. Officially, however, Israel maintains that the treaty draft it has accepted must be accepted by Egypt as is or not at all.
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