–Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir has urged the Palestinians to accept the autonomy plan. Speaking on the Voice of Israel last Friday, he said it was the first time the Palestinians had the opportunity to promote their political status and achieve some form of representation in the area. He said autonomy was a temporary solution for several years which left all options open regarding the future of the territories.
Shamir stressed that the Palestinians would not gain from statements of support by European leaders, and certainly not from terrorist acts. He said that in principle he supported Jewish settlements throughout Eretz Israel, but he added, political considerations and timing should dictate the list of priorities of the government.
He said that as Foreign Minister he would investigate various options to resume diplomatic relations with the USSR and other Communist countries, specifically, the People’s Republic of China.
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