Israeli Labor Party leader Shimon Peres supported Premier Menachem Begin’s decision “not to give in” to American pressures. He told a press conference today that “such pressures can only harm the negotiations” between Israel and Egypt. Peres said that he remains convinced that Israel and Egypt “continue to share the same deep desire for peace.” He added “what needs clarification now is the relationship between Israel and the United States.”
Peres, in Paris for a two-day stay on behalf of the French United Jewish Appeal, left today for Lisbon where he will attend a conference of Socialist Party leaders. He said: “I remain optimistic and believe that the chances for peace between Israel and Egypt are not bad. I also believe that the countries should sign a peace agreement as rapidly as possible and the current difficulties are not the first which have to be overcome. We must keep on trying.”
Peres underlined the deep differences that continue to separate Labor and the current Likud government. He said: “We are not in favor of Begin’s autonomy plan (for the West Bank and Gaza Strip) and continue to advocate our own plan for a territorial compromise solution which should, however, be negotiated with the Jordanians and not with Egypt. We continue to believe that in spite of his current refusal, King Hussein (of Jordan) might reconsider his decision and eventually join in the negotiations” (for a peace agreement).
During his brief stay in Paris, the Labor leader met with members of the French Jewish community and representatives of the French Socialist Party.
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