Kissinger’s Talks with Israeli Leaders May Lay Groundwork for Renewed Round of Geneva Talks

Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger began discussions with Israeli leaders immediately on his arrival here today. He and his aides went directly to Premier Golda Meir’s residence for lunch and the first round of talks on a disengagement agreement with Syria. Kissinger reportedly met privately with Mrs. Meir before the luncheon session which lasted about three hours. A further three-hour working session was held late this afternoon at the Prime Minister’s office.

Mrs. Meir and key ministers, including Abba Eban, Moshe Dayan, Yitzhak Rabin, Yoga Allon, Shimon Peres, and Chief of Staff Mordechai Gur and the Prime Minister’s Office Director General Mordechai Gazit participated on the Israeli side along with Simcha Dinitz, the Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. American officials who participated included Undersecretary of State Joseph J. Sisco, Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Kenneth Keating.

There was no immediate information as to the nature of the talks at this meeting, merely speculations based mainly on leaks from the American delegation and transmitted through American reporters accompanying Kissinger and his entourage. According to some sources, however, there was little hope on the part of Kissinger that the present round of talks would lead to substantive results. But hope was expressed that enough of a groundwork will have been laid to set in motion a renewed round of talks in Geneva.

TALKS TO INCLUDE PLIGHT OF SYRIAN JEWS

Kissinger and his entourage will dine at the home of Foreign Minister Abba Eban tonight. It was described as a “working dinner” to which other ministers in the care-taker Cabinet have been invited. Discussions with Kissinger are expected to include the problem of the 4000 Syrian Jews, the reported murders of Jews in Syria and the arrests of two Jews who were accused of the murders on what Israel considers trumped up charges. Kissinger is expected to be asked to raise these questions with President Hafez Assad in Damascus and to ask Assad to allow Syrian Jews to emigrate.

Meanwhile, according to reports coming here from Damascus, thousands of persons marched through the streets, chanting slogans urging Assad to remain firm by rejecting all peace proposals that do not meet Syria’s terms. The terms Syria wants included in the peace plan are an Israeli commitment to withdraw completely from all occupied Syrian territory and a guarantee to all Palestinians of national rights. Prime Minister Mahmoud Ayoubi said in an interview yesterday in Beirut that Syria would not sign any disengagement agreement with Israel unless it included pledges on these two vital issues.

Kissinger’s visit, his fifth since the end of the Yom Kippur War, was clouded by unconfirmed reports and speculations both as to U.S. proposals and the Israel government’s policy. Some sources denied Egyptian reports that Israel has already agreed to withdraw from the Golan Heights town of Kuneitra to demonstrate its flexibility to the Syrians. Other sources claimed, however, that the reports are substantially correct.

These sources cited recent statements from official quarters playing down Kuneitra’s military importance. Reliable sources said today that the Cabinet is divided, on the matter, Premier Meir and Labor Party Knesseter Aharon Yariv were said to oppose any such withdrawal particularly in the early phases of the talks, Dayan and, significantly, the Labor Party’s new leader, Rabin, reportedly favor it. One unconfirmed report today said Israel was ready to yield Kuneitra if Syria accepts its demands on buffer zones and thinning out of forces. Israel is giving first priority, however, to an immediate exchange of POWs without which disengagement talks cannot move forward.

U.S. VOTE IN UN TO BE RAISED

Mrs. Meir is expected to tell Kissinger personally of Israel’s dismay at the U.S. vote in the Security Council last week for a resolution condemning Israel’s April 12 commando raid into Lebanon without mentioning its motivation–the massacre of 18 Israelis in Kiryat Shemona by terrorists from Lebanese territory. Observers said that Mrs. Meir would point out to Kissinger that Israel takes a very serious view of the fact that the U.S. did not simply abstain but voted in favor of a totally unjust resolution.

Late this evening U.S. Ambassador Robert McCloskey told reporters that the atmosphere at today’s meetings was “characteristically friendly” and said that both sides had reviewed “all elements of a possible disengagement process.” He emphasized that the U.S. did not bring a plan of its own to Israel, hinting that no plan was introduced during the talks. He confirmed that today’s fighting on the Golan Heights was discussed briefly by Kissinger and Israeli leaders.

Kissinger’s schedule tomorrow is uncertain and will depend on whether his first round of talks with the government are concluded tonight. The Cabinet is expected to meet tomorrow in special session, probably before Kissinger leaves for Damascus. He is expected to return here from the Syrian capital Saturday night. Egyptian sources said today, however, that the Secretary would go to Cairo after his talks in Damascus and would not return to Israel until Sunday.