Israeli Premier Shimon Peres said Tuesday that in his talks with Vice President George Bush and Secretary of State George Bush and Secretary of State George Shultz he discussed “initiatives” for moving the stalled Middle East peace process forward.
But Peres refused to reveal what these initiatives were during a press conference at his hotel: “Quiet diplomacy is really essential to discussing some new opportunities on the road to peace.” The Premier was scheduled to have another meeting with Shultz Wednesday and visit the Pentagon before flying to New York later in the day.
Peres said he believed that new initiatives should come from the Arabs. But he stressed that the United States is coordinating the suggestions that are being made. The initiatives discussed with the Reagan Administration are in the “early stages” and have to be checked with “some of our neighbors,” Peres said.
But he stressed the current “setback”, caused when King Hussein of Jordan ended in February his year-long effort of trying to bring about a joint negotiating position with the Palestine Liberation Organization, should not be allowed to “put an end to the peace process.”
When Peres was asked whether Israel should now try to negotiate with PLO leader Yasir Arafat, the Premier replied that Hussein learned that Arafat was more interested in keeping his organization together than in negotiations.
After his talks at the State Department with Shultz, Peres stressed that he believes that peace will be achieved. “I don’t have the slightest doubt about it,” he said.
CONCERNED ABOUT SYRIA
At the press conference later, Peres said Israel was concerned about the belligerent rhetoric from Syria as well as the Syrian military deployment on the Golan Heights. He stressed that Israel was not going to engage in a continuing escalation of rhetoric because this only exacerbated the situation. As to whether Syria was threatening any military action, Peres said this depended on its President, Hafez Assad.
IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR WEST BANK ARABS
Peres maintained that Israel was interested in improving the “quality of life” for the Arab residents of the West Bank and noted that some previous restrictions had been lifted. He said Israel was doing what it could to “facilitate” the steps necessary to improve economic conditions on the West Bank.
The Premier said he had no objection to financial aid from outside to help this process, including from Jordan. He noted that all 800,000 Arabs on the West Bank are citizens of Jordan.
OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED
On other issues: Peres said he believed that the dispute with Egypt over Taba would be settled soon. He said that the peoples of Israel and Egypt prefer the present situation of peace between the two countries “far better” than the former state of belligerency.
He stressed Israel is opposed to the U.S. proposal to sell $354 million in missiles to Saudi Arabia. “We didn’t change our position” of opposition to the sale of arms to countries in a state of belligerency with Israel, he said. He did not mention Israel’s decision not to actively campaign against the sale.
Peres said his government was still committed to the manufacture of the Lavi jet fighter despite a Pentagon report that the plane is not economically feasible at this time. He said the first plane will be ready in September.
Peres said Israel is waiting for all the information on charges that former United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim participated in Nazi war crimes before making any judgement. He said it was up to Waldheim to answer the questions raised about his World War II activities in Yugoslavia.
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