A top Egyptian official expressed his country’s hopes and concerns in the continuing peace process with-Israel here today. Butros Ghali, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said at a meeting with the editorial staff of Maariv, that he was confident that the autonomy talks would proceed and claimed that the issue of venue was determined by a “gentlemen’s agreement” not to hold the talks in either Jerusalem or Cairo.
He also said, in a wide-ranging question and answer session, that by opposing the sale of Western arms to Jordan, Israel was forcing Amman to turn to the Soviet Union; that Egypt was sometimes surprised by Israeli actions which could endanger the Camp David accords; that the Egyptians feel there is an extremist element in Israel that does not believe in peace; and that Israeli policymaking is complicated by the power of the smaller parties in the Knesset.
Ghali is visiting Israel at the head of a delegation representing his country’s ruling National Democratic Party, invited here by the Labor Party. He denied there was a deadlock in the autonomy talks and observed that “There have been worse deadlocks” in the course of Egyptian-Israeli negotiations over the past three years.
The major obstacle to resumption of the talks appears to be Egypt’s refusal to meet in Jerusalem and Israel’s insistance that the talks cannot proceed unless Jerusalem is at least one of the meeting places. According to Ghali, the gentlemen’s agreement has been in effect all along, since the earlier autonomy sessions have been held either in Alexandria or Herzliya, near Tel Aviv.
He conceded there was nothing in writing, but suggested that Maariv “Ask Dr. (Yosef) Burg.” head of the Israeli autonomy negotiating team, “who would confirm that over 50 talks have been held in numerous venues outside of the capitals.”
Replying to other questions, Ghali said the Saudi Arabians have hinted that a renewal of diplomatic relations with Egypt is possible. He said the Persian Gulf war should not be used as an excuse to postpone talks on the Palestinian question. He said Egypt would not help Israel restore its diplomatic ties with Black African nations but will remain neutral.
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