Knesset Rejects Two Motions That Dayan Resign Because He Disclosed Israel Was Sending Arms to Ethiop

The Knesset rejected two motions by opposition members demanding the resignation of Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan because of his disclosure earlier this month that Israel was providing military supplies to Ethiopia, now engaged in war with Somalia. The motions were presented yesterday by Yossi Sarid of the Labor Alignment and Meir Payil of the Sheli faction. Akiva Noff of the Democratic Movement for Change (DMC) planned to offer a similar motion but was forced by coalition discipline to drop it.

Dayan spoke vigorously in his defense. He admitted that he had revealed Israel’s assistance to Ethiopia during a television interview in Zurich on Feb. 6 but insisted that he did so to “put the record straight,” to correct exaggerated reports in the foreign press that Israel was actually participating in the fighting on the horn of Africa. It was the first official disclosure that Israel sent items of a military nature to the East African nation with which it has maintained friendly relations despite political changes there.

Sarid ridiculed Dayan’s assertion that he preferred to tell the truth rather than lie. “If a Foreign Minister does not know how to avoid inconvenient questions, he is probably not fit to be Foreign Minister,” the Labor MK said. Payil said that as a result of the disclosure, all Israeli personnel have been ousted from Ethiopia and irrevocable harm has been done to Israel’s image and interests. Sarid hinted at even worse consequences that could not be discussed in a public forum.

DAYAN STATEMENT ON WEST BANK DENIED

In another development, the Foreign Ministry yesterday denied an Israel Radio report that Dayan had told a number of MKs at a closed meeting that Israel would not necessarily reject an Arab proposal to partition the West Bank. According to the report, the Foreign Minister replied, “yes,” when asked if Israel would consider such a plan and “not necessarily” when asked if consideration would be followed by automatic rejection.

The Foreign Ministry termed the report incorrect but refused to reveal what Dayan actually told the MKs. The Foreign Minister is on record as saying that Israel was prepared to consider any Arab proposals for the West Bank but he has not spoken publicly about partition which would contradict Israel’s proposal for “self-rule” in that territory.

The “self-rule” plan proposed by Premier Menachem Begin, was attacked yesterday by former Foreign Minister Yigal Allon addressing the political committee of the 29th World Zionist Congress. He called the plan anti-Zionist and a threat to Israel’s survival. If it were adopted, he warned, one would soon speak of self-rule for Jews. Allon, who is chairman of the Labor Zionist Movement, proposed territorial compromises in which part of the West Bank would be linked to Jordan.

PRESS LEAKS ASSAILED

Meanwhile, Dayan warned today that he would stop briefing the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Security Committee because of alleged leaks to the press from that body. Speaking on Israel Radio, Dayan referred to media reports claiming that President Anwar Sadat of Egypt was hardening his negotiating position with Israel.

According to Haaretz, Sadat is backing off from his acceptance of President Carter’s Jan. 4 Aswan formula which called for Palestinian “participation” in the determination of their future and is insisting on a forthright declaration on the rights of Palestinians to self-determination. Carter specifically avoided references to self-determination for the Palestinians. Dayan did not mention Haaretz by name but indicated that the reports were based on leaks from the Knesset committee. He called it a very grave matter in view of the delicate nature of the present situation.