A ranking official at the Egyptian Embassy here said today that the Khartoum formula “is dead” and that Egypt was prepared to guarantee Israel security if Israel pulled out of the occupied territories. Samir Ahmed, Minister at the Embassy and currently the Chief of Mission in the absence of the Egyptian Ambassador who is on home leave, addressed a select group of correspondents.
“We no longer behave as if Israel did not exist,” he said. “The Khartoum formula of no recognition, no negotiations and no peace is dead now. We have accepted (Security Council) Resolution 242 and we would give maximum guarantees for the security of Israel if Israel withdrew from the occupied territories.” Ahmed said, however, that “Israel is bent on direct negotiations. She seems to assume that she will do better with us face to face. This is why she keeps the UN out. The world press should use its power to influence Israel toward more flexibility.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
