Mrs. Meir: Decision to Return to Talks Based on ‘military and Political Achievements’

Premier Golda Meir sought to reassure the Knesset today that recent developments justify her government’s decision to end its boycott of the Jarring talks. She said the decision “derives from very important military and political achievements” which she did not specify. But she mentioned in the course of her speech recent United States military and economic aid, including $500 million in credits for additional military purchases “under conditions which reveal an understanding of Israel’s needs and situation.” (In Washington, White House Press Secretary Ronald L. Zeigler said yesterday after the Israel’s Cabinet approved a resolution to return to the talks, the United States was gratified. Robert J. McCloskey, State Department spokesman also welcomed Israel’s decision and said that Secretary of State William P. Rogers may possibly visit the Mideast “at some time when it would be most productive.” He stressed, however, that there was no current plan for Rogers to make the trip before negotiations under Ambassador Gunnar V. Jarring’s auspices begin.) (At the United Nations in New York, Secretary General U Thant expressed gratification with the Cabinet’s decision to return to the peace talks.)

Mrs. Meir declared that “the basic principle is still in force, namely that the Israel-Arab conflict must be ended by a contractual, binding peace agreement” and “until such an agreement is reached, not a single Israeli soldier will be withdrawn from the administered territories.” Mrs. Meir’s justification for rejoining the Jarring talks was challenged by Menachem Beigin, leader of the opposition Gahal faction, who claimed that 44 of the Knesset’s 120 members–a little more than a third–supported his contention that the conditions for Israel’s return to the talks have not been created. He urged the House, “out of a sense of responsibility,” to oppose the government’s return motion. Beigin contended that U.S. political reassurances to Israel were inadequate. He warned that returning to the Jarring talks implied a “re-partition of the land of Israel.” Mrs. Meir told the Knesset that security considerations prevented her from disclosing all of the facts that contributed to her government’s change of mind on the Jarring talks but all of the facts have been provided to the Knesset’s foreign affairs and defense committees. She coupled her appeal for Knesset support with a warning to the Arabs, particularly President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, of dire consequences should they resume warfare against Israel.