Three Israeli leaders will be going abroad within the next two weeks to wage what has been described as a diplomatic offensive with respect to the terms under which Spain is to be admitted to the European Economic Community (EEC).
Israel has a special interest inasmuch as it sees Spain as its most serious competitor in agricultural exports, especially citrus, to the European market. Spain’s entry into the EEC has already been delayed and the issue will top the agenda of Premier Shimon Peres when he visits Italy early next week.
Italy presently holds the rotating chairmanship of the EEC and, like Israel, seeks to delay Spain’s acceptance into the European Common Market for similar reasons.
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir is scheduled to go to Europe in two weeks. He is to meet with the Foreign Ministers of France, West Germany and Holland in hopes of obtaining their support of Israel’s proposed conditions for Spain’s entry into the EEC.
President Chaim Herzog has left on a five-day visit to Luxembourg, France and Belgium and will address the Parliament of Europe tomorrow. He will meet with EEC officials as well. Pierre Pflimlin, President of the Parliament, rejected a demand by the Palestine Liberation Organization that it give them equal time and invite Yasir Arafat to address the international body.
Herzog and his wife, Ora, will dine with King Baudouin of Belgium in Brussels. They will meet with Jewish leaders in the three European capitals they visit.
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