Peres: Israel Sought 7-10-year Cooling-off Period if Sadat Felt He Could Not Conclude Substantive Pa

Defense Minister Shimon Peres revealed last night that Israel’s position during the recent bilateral negotiations with Egypt called for a 7-10-year “cooling-off” period if Egyptian President Anwar Sadat felt he was incapable of concluding a substantive peace settlement with Israel at this time. He also said that the reason the talks, conducted by Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, collapsed was because they turned out to be attempts on both sides to gain American good will rather than negotiations between Israel and Egypt.

Addressing the monthly meeting of the Working Mothers Association here, Peres said that what Sadat offered Israel was at best a deferment of hostilities for several months. “We argued that if Sadat was incapable of making peace at once, he should be able to promise a cooling off period of 7-10 years, but he refused,” Peres said. He also said that Sadat wanted to involve Syria and the Palestine Liberation Organization in the process “but we cannot discuss the future with parties who simply declare they want our destruction.”

Peres predicted that this summer would be a decisive time for the Middle East. He said the key to stability and the choice between peace and hostility was Egypt’s. If Egypt chooses a peaceful approach and reopens the Suez Canal, it may be sure that Israel will not interfere, he stated.

The Defense Minister said he was sure the present differences between Israel and the U.S. would be cleared up in time, just as previous differences had been amicably resolved. He recalled that early in 1948 the then U.S. Secretary of State, Gen. George C. Marshall, had warned Jewish leaders in Palestine not to establish a state. But that did not prevent President Harry Truman from extending U.S. recognition to Israel the moment the State was declared, Peres said.