Israel Welcoming Vance; Hopes for Fruitful Talks That Would Strengthen Bonds of Friendship, Cooperat

The Cabinet issued a statement last night extending a warm welcome to U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance who will arrive in Israel tomorrow. The statement said Israel hoped for “fruitful talks” that would “strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation” with the U.S.

Foreign Minister Yigal Allon told the Cabinet he expected Vance’s visit to be more a get-acquainted occasion than a round of negotiations on a substantive level. Nevertheless, he said. Israel would elucidate its basic positions. Vance will be told that while Israel favors an overall peace settlement at this time, it is ready, as an alternative, to conduct negotiations separately with each Arab state.

Israeli leaders will also stress their opposition to participation by the PLO in peace talks because of the PLO’s covenant calling for the destruction of Israel. Allon said.

He stated that on the bilateral level, the talks with Vance are expected to touch on the Carter Administration’s review of President Ford’s promise to sell Israel advanced weapons systems, including cluster and concussion bombs. Israel’s Ambassador to Washington, Simcha Dinitz, who is here for Vance’s visit, said a positive decision on these weapons may be attainable.

(According to the State Department in Washington, Vance is scheduled to arrive in Tel Aviv tomorrow evening, arrive in Cairo Thursday morning, leave the following morning for “a very short stop” in Beirut and then go to Amman late Friday afternoon. He will leave Amman Saturday for Riyadh, will be in Damascus Sunday and leave there Monday for a return flight to the U.S.)