Israel Has ‘solid Understanding’ with U.S. After Christopher Visit

U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher’s visit to Israel last week created a “very solid understanding with the United States and the Clinton administration” and paved the way for a resumption of the peace talks, according to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Speaking to American Jewish organizational leaders here Sunday evening, Rabin pledged his government would do “the utmost” to exploit the opportunities posed by the peace process without sacrificing Israel’s security.

The prime minister said he would not allow terrorism to affect Israel’s return to the negotiating table and, by the same token, the Palestinians have “no right to condition the continuation of the negotiations on our struggle against terrorism.”

He called Palestinian efforts to link the peace talks to the return of the Moslem fundamentalists Israel deported to Lebanon “totally irrelevant.” And he defended the deportations themselves as lawful and as having “delivered a real setback” to the Islamic fundamentalist Hamas movement.

Rabin made his remarks at the final dinner of the annual mission of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, where he was warmly received.

He told the Jewish leaders that Israel stands ready to withdraw its military forces on the Golan Heights to secure and recognized borders.

But he said Israel would not negotiate the dimensions of the withdrawal until Syria discloses the nature of the peace it is willing to offer and makes clear the agreement will stand on its own, apart from the progress made in other tracks of the peace talks.

He also said his government would do its best not to “pay the same price” on the Golan that was paid for the peace treaty with Egypt, in which Israel agreed to “withdraw from every square inch” demanded by Egypt.

In the months following his election as prime minister, Rabin rebuked organized American Jewry for its interference in U.S.-Israeli relations, prompting charges that he did not appreciate or understand the importance of the role the community plays.

But on Sunday, the atmosphere was cordial and friendly. The conference presented him with a cake and serenaded him in honor of his 71st birthday.

He then opened his remarks with a brief but pointed reference to the importance of U.S.-Israeli relations and Israel’s relationship with the American Jewish community.

Throughout its mission, the conference heard a host of government officials, including Foreign Minister Shimon Peres late last week.

Peres had high praise for the Clinton administration, the seriousness with which it approaches the peace process and the visit by Christopher. He said he could not remember “so much friendship delivered” in “so few words.”