Officials here refrained today from reacting directly to the resignation of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young. They explained that it was an internal American matter and that Israel had no interest in the dismissal of any American official.
But Israeli officials stated that they did not think Young’s resignation would change the suspicion here that the U.S. intends to change its stance toward the Palestine Liberation Organization in an effort to woo them to participate in the Middle East peace negotiations. The officials noted that Israel had earlier in the week lodged a protest over Young’s meeting with a PLO representative through Ambassador Ephraim Evron in Washington.
There is a growing conviction here that in the long run the Americans are determined to bring the PLO, to the negotiating table — and this is considered here as a breach of earlier commitments to Israel. In fact, officials in Jerusalem today quoted once again Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan’s comments to the press last week that the American stance toward Israel represents “not just an erosion, but a fundamental change in policy.” Dayan also said this week that the Egyptians and Americans now have as their top priority bringing the Palestinians to the peace negotiations table. As a result, he said, the U.S. is presently seeking a legal basis for recognizing the PLO so that it may represent the Palestinians in the negotiations.
The meetings in Vienna between U.S. Ambassador Milton Wolf and PLO officials, confirmed by the State Department in Washington yesterday, were but another indication of this trend, officials said.
The issue is expected to be at the focus of the upcoming talks between the Israeli leaders and President Carter’s special envoy to the autonomy talks, Robert Strauss, who is due here tomorrow. Strauss advanced the date of his visit here after Israel complained about a new American stand emerging on United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 and the PLO. This, officials said, will be linked by the Israelis with the Young, Wolf meetings with the PLO, with Strauss most likely trying to reassure the Israelis that there is no change in the American Mideast policy.
The Israelis are expected to tell Strauss that any such change would be detrimental to the peace agreement with Egypt, and may lead the autonomy talks to a dead end. Deputy Premier Yigael Yadin, talking to reporters prior to his departure yesterday for a 10-day visit to the U.S., warned that the inclusion of the PLO in peace negotiations could cause Israel to withdraw from the talks.
Israel now regards the discussion at the Security Council of the Palestinian issue, scheduled for Aug. 23, as a test case of the American position. Israel is expected to demand an American veto on any change in Resolutions 242 and 338.
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