Lord Carrington’s insistence that the Palestine Liberation Organization must be “associated with” the Middle East peace process drew strenuous objections from leaders of the Israeli government and the opposition Labor Party today, the final day of the British Foreign Secretary’s visit to Israel.
In a speech last night after a dinner given in his honor by Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamis and again at a press conference this morning, Carrington reiterated the main principles of the European Economic Community’s (EEC) Venice declaration of June 1980–the need to bring the PLO into the peace process provided that it first “accepts Israel’s right to live in peace and security.” He stressed at the same time that Israel must be “satisfied about her own security” in any negotiated settlement.
Carrington added, however, that such a settlement should give the Palestinians “self-determination” and observed, “If we demand the right of Israel to live in peace and security, we must be prepared for these rights to be accorded to others.”
THESIS CATEGORICALLY REJECTED
Both Shamir and Premier Menachem Begin, with whom Carrington conversed at length since his arrival here Tuesday, categorically rejected the British diplomat’s thesis that the PLO had to be brought into negotiations because it is an inescapable reality in the area.
Labor Party chairman Shimon Peres, who breakfasted with Carrington this morning, said the PLO was not only bent on bringing disaster upon Israel but would also bring disaster to the Palestinians themselves. Peres repeated his party’s position that the Palestinian issue should be negotiated with Jordan.
Begin charged that European support for Palestinian self-determination prejudiced the chances for progress in the autonomy talks between Israel, Egypt and the U.S. “Give autonomy a chance,” Begin told the British Foreign Secretary. Carrington replied that the Europeans by no means sought to impair the autonomy prospects but simply believed it would not work.
He explained at his press conference that this view stemmed from the fact that all of Israel’s neighbors, except Egypt, oppose the autonomy scheme. Carrington insisted that the principles of the Venice declaration are still valid.
Israeli officials had expressed the opinion recently that they were as good as dead since the ascent to power in France of President Francois Mitterrand. Carrington said he had read Mitterrand’s speech “carefully, and I saw nothing in it that contradicted Venice.”
HOPES TALKS CLEARED THE AIR
While acknowledging his differences with the Israelis, the Foreign Secretary said he hoped that his visit had helped “put any past misunderstandings behind us.” He stressed that Anglo-Israeli differences “should not be exaggerated nor should they affect our excellent relations in so many other fields.” Israel government officials echoed those sentiments, saying the frank but friendly talks with Carrington had helped clear the air after the recent public quarrels between the British Foreign Secretary and Israeli leaders, primarily over the Palestinian issue.
The cordial atmosphere of the visit was clouded today when British sources made it known that Israeli authorities were obstructing attempts by Carrington’s top Middle East aide, Sir John Leahy, to meet tomorrow with the deposed mayors of Noblus and Ramallah, Bassam Shaka and Karim Khalaf. Sources said the meetings might not take place. Nevertheless, Leahy met today with Mayor Elias Freij of Bethlehem and was to visit Mayor Rashad Shawa of Gaza this afternoon.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
