Former Israeli President Yitzhak Navon has asked President Francois Mitterrand to bear in mind Israel’s economic interests in Western Europe after Spain and Portugal formally join the European Economomic Community (EEC).
Navon, on a private visit in France, also asked the French President to help obtain the release of Israeli prisoners of war held by Syria and by Palestinian organizations.
Foreign Minister Claude Cheysson called on Navon at his Paris hotel later. French sources said the minister apparently sought to put in concrete terms the matters Navon discussed with Mitterrand.
Navon told a press conference that the Labor Party of which is is a leader, would be prepared to accelerate the Palestinian clauses of the Camp David agreements. The former President, who may be Israeli’s next Foreing Minister if Labor wins the election next month said his party is willing to skip the 3-5 year transition period provided for by the Camp David agreements and open negotiations at once with Jordan and representative Palestinians, on the future status of the West Bank.
Navon also said that future agreements in Lebanon should provide for a UN buffer force between Israel and Syria. He said he and his party are opposed to a permanent Israeli presence in south Lebanon and want a time-table for an Israeli withdrawal.
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