Lawmaker Says Begin Took More Risks Than Sadat in Search for Peace

Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes (D.Md.) lauded Premier Menachem Begin of Israel and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt for their “tremendous vision and statesmanship” at the Camp David summit conference but said that Begin took more risks than Sadat in their search for peace.

Sarbanes addressed some 300 Jewish leaders Saturday night at the United Jewish Appeal’s Mid-Atlantic States Regional Conference at the Stouffers Inn Convention Center here. “It has been popular to assign all the sacrifices to Sadat but Begin took more chances, “he said, according to Ian Blynn, reporter for the Jewish Exponent of Philadelphia.

In addition to regaining, without military action, all the territory lost during the Six-Day War, Egypt will most likely take advantage of its enhanced image in the U.S. by asking for more aid for its ailing economy, Sarbanes said. He noted further that Sadat favors a West Bank linked with Jordan, thereby preventing the rise of an independent Palestinian state. Such a state is now unlikely, given Israel’s power to veto an unpalatable West Bank solution, he said. In addition, the possibility exists “way down the road” for “economic cooperation” between Israel and Egypt, the Senator observed.

Sarbanes praised President Carter’s leadership at the Camp David summit and said the talks have “moved us far in terms of a separate peace” between Egypt and Israel while at the same time protecting Sadat from charges of having “sold out” Arab interests. He cautioned, however, that the agreements are “the foundation of peace, not peace itself” and that there are “hard times” to come.

Sarbanes, who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reported that at a closed session of the committee after the Camp David summit Sadat was closely questioned by Sen. James Abourezk (D.SD) who, in effect, accused him of having sold out the Arabs. Sadat’s answer was encouraging, Sarbanes said. “He said that over time a sense of confidence and understanding would grow and make possible agreements on problems that now seem insurmountable,” Sarbanes reported.

QUESTION OF SAUDI ARABIA

In reply to a question, the Senator indicated that should Saudi Arabia withdraw its subsidy to Egypt or force Sadat back into the Arab rejectionist fold, Congress “might” vote to replace that subsidy with U.S. funds. Sarbanes also supported U.S. funding of Israel’s construction of two air bases to replace those to be given up when Sinai is restored to Egyptian sovereignty. “We’ve been spending billions to equip both countries to fight one another. We should spend as much to achieve peace,” he said.

He added that the American position as an honest broker in the Middle East conflict “is the result of the concern of millions of Americans–not just Jews–in support of Israel. Because of that concern, “Shalom may become not a hope but a reality,” he said.