Peace Talks Remain Deadlocked

The deadlock in the peace negotiations between Israel and Egypt continued over the weekend even as U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance began his visit to the Middle East here yesterday for talks with Israeli and Egyptian leaders far what he said was to “get the peace process back on the track again.” In spite of his public declaration to this effect, it was noted privately in some circles here that Vance does not expect either side to change positions. (See related stories P. 3 and 4.)

President Anwar Sadat of Egypt declared last Sunday that there would be no direct talks with Israel until Israel commits itself to returning all of the territory taken during the Six-Day War. His statement followed by a few days the expulsion from Egypt of the Israeli military mission which had remained behind after the Israeli-Egyptian peace talks were suspended by Sadat last January.

Israel’s position, enunciated after the meeting of Israel’s and Egypt’s foreign ministers in Leeds, England, is that Israel is prepared to discuss a territorial compromise on the West Bank if one is proposed and that it would be prepared to discuss the question of sovereignty for that territory after five years of self rule.

EMPHASIS ON COMPROMISES, CONCESSIONS

Welcoming Vance at Ben Gurion airport last night, Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan emphasized the need for “compromises and concessions” from both sides and noted that “all parties realize there is no other way…and that all other alternatives are far for worse.”

In an earlier interview with Israel television Friday night, Dayan claimed that the parties are “closer to peace today than ever before. The points of difference have now been clearly set out…Some hopes have been proven false…but many openings toward agreement have come to light.” In the interview, Dayan also noted that he did not expect the U.S. to impose its deas on the parties, although it had unjustly “put Israel in the dock and accused her of intransigence.”

The mood in official circles prevailing during the course of Vance’s visit here did not, however, reflect Dayan’s cautious optimism. The Secretary began his visit to Israel by delivering a hand-written personal message from President Carter to Premier Menachem Begin. The contents of the letter were not disclosed, neither could it be ascertained whether Vance was also carrying a similar letter to Sadat.

This morning, Vance met for 2-1/2 hours with the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, where topics discussed included the chances of continuing negotiations between Israel and Egypt and the events in Lebanon. A session this afternoon was devoted to U.S.-Israel bilateral issues. An additional meeting was hurriedly arranged this afternoon for tomorrow morning. Vance is scheduled to leave for Alexandria, Eavat. tomorrow.

Following the morning session, neither Vance nor Begin was willing to relay details of the meeting. “We had a good discussion covering a number of different subjects, ” Vance said. It was learned that Vance expressed his disagreement with Egyptian reports that nothing was achieved at the Leeds conference and reiterated that positive achievements had resulted from the talks there.

Begin refused to elaborate on either the contents of the meeting or on the handwritten message he received from Carter. He termed Vance’s mission a “difficult and important one,” and declined to reflect on the chances for continuing negotiations.

NO FUTURE SUMMIT TALKS DISCUSSED

“The messages coming out of Cairo this morning were very negative…but we must not despair,” he said. Begin noted that one of Vance’s aides will be returning Wednesday to Jerusalem following the talks in Alexandria, “at which time we will see what is Egypt’s position.” He mentioned that there had been no discussion of a future summit between Carter, Sadat and himself as a means of resuming the peace momentum.

Begin, meanwhile, is expected to propose to Vance the idea of a “partial settlement” to be taken up in his talks with Sadat tomorrow. Such a settlement refers to a deal for the return of a major part of Sinai in return for “components of peaceful relations.” Begin, Dayan, Defense Minister Ezer Weizman and Deputy Premier Yigael Yadin are all said to be united in their support for this proposal.