The State Department today sidestepped requests from reporters for the U.S. interpretation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 242, noting that this will be among the topics Israeli Premier Menachem Begin and President Carter will discuss in their meetings at the White House March 14-15.
Carter has said that 242 applies “to all fronts” while Begin has indicated that its application does not involve the West Bank which he regards as “liberated” and not “occupied” territories. The resolution speaks of “occupied territories.”
A State Department spokesman, Thomas Reston, said “differences of opinion” do exist between the U.S. and Israel on the interpretation of 242, but he was not giving “an interpretation of that classical question whether occupied territories means all occupied territories.”
When he was asked whether the resolution means Israel should withdraw “from all occupied territories,” Reston replied, “No. I am not saying that, absolutely not.” Reston said the issue of whether the U.S. should meet Israel’s request for 25 F-15 and 150 F-16 jet fighters will be discussed when Israeli Defense Minister Ezer Weizman is in Washington for three days beginning tomorrow.
Reston reserved comment on a suggestion by Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd (D.W.Va.) that the Carter Administration withhold final notification to Congress of the aircraft package for Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel until after the Senate disposes of the Panama Canal treaties. Senate opponents of the package have advised the Administration not to attempt to rush the aircraft deals through Congress and cited the Panama treaties as a reason for postponing discussion of them.
SCHLESINGER OPTS FOR PLANES SALE TO SAUDIS
Secretary of Energy James Schlesinger said yesterday on the CBS television program “Face the Nation,” that “it would be unwise” for Congress to “turn down” the proposed sale of 60 F-15s to Saudi Arabia. He based his view on “our longer term relationship with the Saudis, and the energy problem, as well as political problems in the Middle East on which the Saudis have been a modifying” and “moderating influence.”
Asked by a reporter whether it would be “a slap in the face” if Congress rejected the sale to the Saudis, Schlesinger responded that “some might certainly take it that way.” He added, “It depends upon how the Congress were to make such a hypothetical rejection, but I do not believe that the Congress ultimately will reject the sale.”
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