Dayan on Way to Washington

Defense Minister Moshe Dayan left for Washington today with Israel’s plan for disengagement with Syria that he will present to Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger tomorrow. He told reporters at Ben Gurion Airport before his departure that disengagement was at the moment the most important political and security factor for Israel. He hinted however, that the future of Israeli peace negotiations with the Arabs may hinge on what Kissinger and Soviet leaders decided in their talks in Moscow this week on the Middle East.

“Maybe there will be something to hear from him (Kissinger), if he discussed or reached an agreed stand with his hosts as to the continuation of the Geneva peace conference,” Dayan said. “Maybe during his Moscow visit things were decided, at least between Russia and America, as to future developments.” Dayan added, “If the dynamics of U.S.-Soviet activity on questions relating to our region continues, then we should pay utmost attention to them and face these developments in a way that is best for us.”

Dayan said he was carrying a disengagement plan approved by the Israeli government to Washington but would not say what it contains. “I carry with me a signed map, but I will not open it here. I shall do it before Kissinger,” he said. But the Defense Minister made it clear that the release of Israeli POWs in Syria was an integral part of Israel’s disengagement plan and that there would be no separation of forces until all the POWs are returned.

CRUCIAL YEAR FOR ISRAEL-ARAB RELATIONS

He confirmed reports that following his presentation in Washington, a Syrian representative would come to the U.S. capital presumably with Damascus’ plan. But “talks will start only when both sides are ready to approach one another,” Dayan said. He emphasized that this year will be a crucial one with respect to shifting from a state of war to the stage of negotiations with Israel’s neighbors. He said negotiations would be the most important subject affecting Israel and dealing with it will be more intense than at any time since the 1967 Six-Day War.

Referring to Egypt’s violation of the disengagement agreement in the limited forces zone east of the Suez Canal, Dayan said that while such acts cannot be overlooked, they were no cause for a crisis. He said he hoped the matter would be settled promptly. He said Egypt felt uneasy at being the only Arab state so far to have reached a disengagement agreement with Israel. Dayan flew to Washington in a specially fitted El Al cargo plane. While in the U.S., Dayan will meet with Jewish leaders over the weekend. On Monday, he will meet with members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, according to an announcement by John Stennis (D.Miss.), committee chairman.