Israeli Unity on War Policy May Fizzle in Postwar Period

While Israeli politicians have stood united behind the government’s policy of restraint in the face of Iraqi missile attacks, the non-partisan spirit may collapse in the postwar period, when peace is the issue.

Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir and Shimon Peres, leader of the opposition Labor Party, clashed sharply on the subject Tuesday during a Knesset debate.

There seem to be more subtle differences between Shamir and Foreign Minister David Levy and their respective camps within the Likud bloc.

Both Shamir and Levy spoke Tuesday of their readiness to negotiate with the Arab states “without preconditions.”

But Levy stressed Israel must launch a peace offensive without delay after the war.

Shamir, for his part, repeated his opposition to the “land-for-peace” formula, though it is one of the principles of the 1978 Camp David accords, which he often cites. Analysts say he sees no immediate need for a new peace initiative when Israel already has one on the table.

The prime minister’s altercation with Peres took place at a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The Labor leader took offense at Shamir’s remark the day before that he “quaked” at the thought of “someone else” handling Israel’s postwar diplomacy.

“Someone else” meant Peres, the Labor leader charged. He accused the prime minister of hating him personally and of squandering chances for peace in the past.

Shamir denied both charges but insisted on his right to express profound gratitude that Labor would not be shaping Israel’s policies.

Peres said Monday that recent visitors to Damascus reported the Syrians ready to talk peace with Israel, on condition that the Palestinian issue topped the agenda.

Shamir reiterated his readiness to negotiate with Syria “without preconditions.” He told reporters following the committee session that he neither feared nor expected pressure on Israel after the Gulf war.