Despite doubts raised by some ministers, the Cabinet is expected to give its approval–at least in broad principle–to the “working paper” drawn up last week by Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan and Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, observers here believe. Finance Minister Simcha Ehrlich, who has been involved in the process of “clarifications” between Premier Menachem Begin in his Tel Aviv hospital bed and Dayan in New York, told newsmen today that he expected Cabinet approval of the working paper.
Dayan is due back from New York in time to explain the paper personally to his fellow ministers. Begin, who is to be discharged from Ichilov Hospital tomorrow morning, will attend the Cabinet meeting. He is expected to back Dayan’s recommendation that the Cabinet approve the paper.
OPPOSITION IS EXPECTED
Opposition is expected from, among others, Minister of Agriculture Ariel Sharon, who was the sole Cabinet objector to the earlier Israeli assent to a “united Arab delegation” for the Geneva formal reopening session. He is considered certain to object now that Dayan has tentatively agreed to the united delegation–or at least multi-party delegations, including Palestinians–remaining together with national delegations beyond the opening session and conducting negotiations on such key issues as “refugees.”
Maariv reported from New York today that several Knesset members attached to Israel’s UN delegation were critical of the working paper, not all of them members of the opposition.
There is also a feeling in Jerusalem that hard-line Herut members have become increasingly uncomfortable and suspicious of Dayan’s handling of the talks with the American Administration. Their doubts were expressed in a weekend press interview by Shmuel Katz, Begin’s “advisor on overseas information” and a veteran Irgun comrade of the Premier, who indicated that Cabinet approval of the working paper was not a foregone conclusion. Dayan himself hinted at this possibility in statements over the weekend in New York.
If the Cabinet does approve the paper, Dayan will be called on to defend this step in a Knesset session to be convened Thursday at opposition’s behest. His longtime friend and ally Shimon Peres, leader of the Labor Alignment, is expected to assail his policies. Another opposition attack is expected from Dayan’s one-time army superior, Yigael Yadin, leader of the Democratic Movement for Change.
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