Labor Party leader Shimon Peres believes Israel must take the initiative now to foster stability and security in the Middle East in partnership with the U.S. and the pro-Western Arab states. He said on a television interview today that his recent secret talks with Arab leaders in Morocco and London left him more optimistic about chances for acceptance of an Israeli initiative for economic cooperation in the region.
Peres reportedly met with King Hassan of Morocco in that country and with Prince Mohammad, brother of King Hussein of Jordan, in London earlier this month. Morocco officially denied that such meeting took place. Peres himself refused to confirm or deny the reported meetings when he returned to Israel a week ago but has since acknowledged them.
Referring to his visit “to a country which denies it took place” (Morocco), Peres said he had discussed his proposed approach with both Arab and European leaders and found them interested. He stressed that he was not “negotiating” but was sounding out the possibilities in light of the Reagan Administration’s announced intention to fight terrorism and build stability in the Middle East.
REGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION PROPOSED
In that connection, Peres suggested that the U.S., Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel should now consider the establishment of a regional structure to foster economic cooperation in the Red Sea area, discuss the development of the Dead Sea resources, the Israeli port of Eilat and the Jordanian port of Akaba on the Red Sea, the construction of airfields, road networks and potash production.
It is imperative for Israel to take the initiative now, he said, leaving the onus of rejection to the Arabs. He recalled that in the 1950’s Britain established an Arab League that excluded Israel and warned that if Israel does not act, the U.S. may
now build an “Arab League” excluding Israel. Peres repeated his contention that Saudi Arabia may recognize the fact that it needs peace and stability more than Israel. “Saudi Arabia has oil without stabilization but without stability there is a danger of no oil,” he said. Nevertheless, the Labor Party chairman’s overture to the Saudis met with a prompt rebuff.
SAUDIS REJECT PERES’ CONTENTION
His suggestion that if the Labor Party wins the June 30 Knesset elections and he becomes Prime Minister he would try to negotiate peace with Saudi Arabia, drew a negative response. Reports from Saudi Arabia this week quoted Information Minister Mohammed Abdo Yamani as saying that his country “rejects allegations in the enemy’s press to implicate the Kingdom in positions contrary to its present and future policies.” Yamani reportedly said Peres’ remarks were for local consumption and added, “The peace we want is not that which Peres and (Premier Menachem) Begin want.”
But Peres suggested today that too much emphasis or concern should not be placed on the public utterances of the Arab leaders. He indicated that in his recent and earlier talks he had received a different impression of the basic thinking among the Arabs. “There is now a different situation in both Israel and the Middle East. The next four years won’t be like the last,” Peres said.
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