A strategy paper on the forthcoming Camp David summit was submitted this morning to Premier Menachem Begin following drafting efforts by an inter-ministerial committee composed of Eliahu Ben-Elissar, head of the Prime Minister’s office, Gen. Avraham Tamir, head of the army’s planning branch, Meir Rosenne, legal advisor to the Foreign Ministry, and Meir Gabai, director-general of the Justice Ministry. The paper will be presented to the Cabinet Sunday, after which it will be submitted to the summit meeting in Maryland Sept. 5.
The 100-page document is composed of three parts: an outline of the Israel-Egypt negotiations till now, proposals for steps to be taken by Israel at Camp David and objectives for negotiations to follow the summit. The document includes a comprehensive proposal for withdrawal from territories based on Security Council Resolution 242, an updated version of Israel’s autonomy plan, draft proposals for a possible mutual declaration of principles and ideas for the solution of the 1967 refugee problem.
The document does not differ from the government’s peace plan as stated till now, but rather suggests alternative ways to implement it. It also offers a comparison between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s position as conveyed in his talks with Israeli personalities, such as Defense Minister Ezer Weizman, and the Egyptian stand offered by Egyptian Foreign Minister Mo hammed Kaamel at the Leeds Castle conference.
BASED ON TWO MAJOR APPROACHES
The paper amounts to recommendations based on two major approaches: reinstating Egyptian sovereignty over all of Sinai and promoting a Jordanian-sponsored autonomy on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In both cases, Israel reserves the right to maintain a security and civilian presence in certain parts of the areas.
The document does not include maps, a feature which perhaps speaks for its more general nature when compared with previous Israeli proposals. The plan also avoids mention of the Golan Heights. Begin’s position is that Israel would be prepared to negotiate a peace effort with Syria if the latter halted its opposition to the current peace efforts.
It was understood that the document deals with the issue of East Jerusalem, but details were not disclosed “pending Begin’s talks at Camp David.” Begin was recently reported to visualize a United Jerusalem as Israel’s capital divided into boroughs giving Arab suburbs sub-municipal powers, with special status for Moslem religious shrines.
The document is based on all the peace proposals submitted by Israel and Egypt since Sadat’s November visit to Jerusalem as well as suggestions made by the U.S. and Egypt. Tamir said yesterday he does not remember any staff which produced a document of such proportions in such a short time.
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