Peres Criticizes Autonomy Plan

Shimon Peres, leader of the opposition Labor Alignment, sharply criticized today the autonomy plan for the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, declaring that the plan does not have “much chance” of success.

Addressing some 120 American labor leaders and members of the American Trade Union Council for Histadrut and the Labor Zionist Alliance, at a meeting at the Histadrut headquarters here, Peres said that the autonomy plan is a “pure likud invention that nobody asked for. It has the resemblance of an unfinished thought.”

Peres added that he “can hardly see” how the autonomy complies with the Gush Emunim plans to establish 10 new settlements during the Passover holidays. (Meanwhile, it was reported from Jerusalem, the Gush Emunim backed off from their plans to break ground for 10 settlements during Passover.)

But Peres reiterated the support of his party to the just concluded peace treaty with Egypt. “We are an opposition to the government (of Premier Menachem Begin) but not against peace, “he declared, adding: “This (the treaty with Egypt) was the only alternative, the only chance for peace.”

The farmer Defense Minister and the present chairman of the Labor Party called on the American labor movement to participate in the process of peace between Egypt and Israel. “I believe that American labor–which played in the past such a prominent role in the development of Israel–should participate in promoting peace between us I believe the Egyptians are interested in it, too American labor, together with Israeli and Egyptian labor, should cooperate in making peace a new reality.”

THE GREATEST VICTORY

Peres, said that Israel won its wars in the past because of its democracy. “Finally we have the greatest victory we ever had: the end of war with Egypt.” He said that as freedom brought peace “I hope that peace will bring freedom to the Arab countries.” He said that in his view; President Anwar Sadat of Egypt desires eventually to make Egyptian society more democratic in the Western meaning of the term.

In reply to a question as to the prospect that the peace treaty would be abrogated after Sadat is no longer the ruler of Egypt, Peres said that “the people around Sadat support his policy” of peace with Israel and that this attitude is shared by “many important” people in Egypt. Peres paid tribute to Sadat’s courage in undertaking his peace initiative with Israel.

As to the relations of Israel with its other Arab neighbors, Peres said that the Jordanians “are more frightened than us” of the establishment of a Palestinian state on the West Bank. He claimed that between Jordan and Israel there are de facto “peace conditions but not a peace treaty,” citing the open movement between the two countries on the Jordan River’s bridges and “the most tranquil border” which the two nations share.

Peres also predicted that Syria, which is presently armed to the teeth by the Soviets, will “one day” seek support from Washington, discarding their Russian mentors.

Asked about the prospects of the Labor Party regaining power, Peres said the results of a recently published poll, after the peace treaty was signed in Washington, gave the party 46 percent of the votes compared with only 35 percent to the ruling Likud. “We are revitalizing our party, and I believe we are doing well,” Peres said.