A battle is looming within the outgoing Labor-Likud unity government over how to respond to Egypt’s recognition of the independent Palestinian state proclaimed by Yasir Arafat in Algiers on Nov. 15.
Israel’s initial reaction to the news Monday was to express regret, a relatively mild remonstrance in the language of diplomacy. But all indications are that it is not Jerusalem’s last word on the matter.
The Inner Cabinet, the government’s top policy-making body, is to take up the latest development at its weekly session Wednesday.
The crisis in relations with Egypt came at a time when Labor and Likud reportedly were in the delicate stages of negotiations over a broad coalition to replace the outgoing government.
Although ideologically irreconcilable, the two largest factions were said to both be concerned over the prospects of a narrow Likud-led coalition with the extreme right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties as their only partners.
At this stage, however, Likud is expected to demand tough reprisals against Cairo, at the urging of the far right. Labor will insist on a more moderate response.
The Egyptian ambassador to Israel, Mohammed Basiouny, was summoned Monday night to the Foreign Ministry to hear Israel’s official reaction from Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.
Peres was expected to point out, among other things, that the Camp David accords require joint agreement by the two signatories for any change in the status of the territories administered by Israel.
DEMAND ON TABA EXPECTED
Although Arafat’s proclamation at the Palestine National Council meeting in Algiers mentioned no territorial boundaries, the new state is generally envisaged as encompassing the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Rightist elements, represented by Tehiya and other factions, are now likely to argue that Egypt has nullified the Camp David accords by recognizing a Palestinian state and that therefore Israel is no longer bound by them.
The right is expected to demand that Israel refuse to return the Taba region to Egypt, as required by binding arbitration.
It will urge Israel to recall its ambassador from Cairo for “consultations.” And there will be a mounting drumbeat from the far right to annex the West Bank and Gaza Strip immediately.
Some 30 Arab, Moslem and Third World countries announced recognition of the Palestinian state within 48 hours after it was proclaimed.
Egypt was among a number of countries, the Soviet Union and East Germany among them, that warmly welcomed the declaration, but stopped short of recognition.
Confusion developed Saturday when Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency reported that President Hosni Mubarak had recognized the Palestinian state, but later retracted its report.
It was only after the Israeli ambassador in Cairo, Shimon Shamir, met Sunday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Esmat Abdel Meguid that official confirmation was received in Jerusalem.
The Egyptians formally announced recognition retroactive to Nov. 15.
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