Labor and Likud are taking their bitter dispute over an international conference for Middle East peace to Washington, a development which could embarrass the Reagan Administration and has already heightened the atmosphere of government crisis at home.
The latest move in the foreign policy war between the two coalition partners is the mission to Washington Minister-Without-Portfolio Moshe Arens conducted for Premier Yitzhak Shamir.
Arens, a Herut hardliner and former Israel Ambassador to the U.S., flew there last Thursday and met with Secretary of State George Shultz, other Administration officials and Congressional leaders.
He reportedly tried to persuade them not to support an international conference which is strongly advocated by Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, the Labor Party leader. Arens is due back Monday. Peres himself is going to Washington in two weeks, apparently to press his views. Labor Party chairman Rafi Edri, is also in Washington for meetings with Shultz and other key officials.
Arens’ trip was approved by the Cabinet last week as a lecture tour on behalf of Israel Bonds. Labor has accused Likud of misrepresenting it. Peres met briefly with Shamir Sunday to lodge a protest over Arens’ mission and how it was arranged.
Likud sources said their leaders would launch an energetic “counter-attack” in Israel and abroad to explain why Shamir opposes an international forum and to rebut Labor charges that Likud is anti-peace. Both Labor and Likud Ministers concede privately that this situation cannot continue.
Minister of Transport Haim Corfu of Likud said Sunday night that Arens’ trip to Washington was now “accepted conduct in this government.” He agreed that the government could not display its disunity abroad for very long and continue to survive. Religious Affairs Minister Zevulun Hammer of the National Religious Party, criticized both Labor and Likud for sending emissaries to the U.S. to advocate conflicting policies.
Education Minister Yitzhak Navon, a Laborite, said Sunday that he expected Peres to submit his diplomatic proposals to the full Cabinet within “a short time” and it was entirely possible this could precipitate the government’s collapse.
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