Cabinet Discusses Vance’s Visit

Next month’s visit of U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance was discussed at today’s Cabinet meeting. Premier Yitzhak Rabin described it as an “orientation visit” and said the political situation would be thoroughly reviewed before Vance’s arrival.

He was replying to demands by some ministers that the government prepare itself for the visit. Transport Minister Gad Yaacobi and Health Minister Victor Shemtov urged that the Cabinet hold a special political session preparatory to discussions with Vance. Rabin said Israel would use the occasion to acquaint the new American Secretary of State with the “accepted views” of Israel, including reconvening the Geneva conference and the prospects for an overall settlement with the Arab states but no negotiations with the PLO.

Vance’s visit to the Middle East that will take him to Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel is expected to be announced officially in Washington tomorrow. He is expected in Israel in mid-February.

EVENTS IN EGYPT ASSESSED

Foreign Minister Yigal Allon briefed the Cabinet on the riots in Egypt and that country’s serious economic situation. He said that if Egypt wanted to stem its social and economic deterioration it had no choice but to abandon its aggressive policy toward Israel, out its military expenditures and concentrate on economic and social development.

He said this was feasible for Egypt “because Israel has no aggressive designs” on that country. However, he cautioned that “The web of internal contradictions in Egypt’s policy could lead to a hardening of her position, hoping that she would find a country which would want to save the existing regime on account of Israel’s interests.” Allon was apparently referring to the U.S. He said “The riots in Egypt may open the Egyptian ruler’s eyes to that fact that there is no alternative to a realistic political solution. However.” Allon said, “It is possible that Egypt will seek a way out of its social unrest by adopting an adventurous policy.”