Defense Minister Shimon Peres said last night that Israel wants the tangible element of territory and the intangible of the passage of time to assure it that Egypt’s intentions are peaceful economic development rather than war. Addressing graduates of the Feinberg School of the Weizmann Institute of Sentence in Rehovoth, Peres said Israel would require the geographic assurance of a land bridge to Sharm el-Sheikh to ensure freedom of navigation in the Straits of Tiran and control over the mountain passes in Sinai to prevent a surprise attack. Israel also requires a large demilitarized zone in Sinai, he said.
The time element, Peres said, called for a cooling-off period between Israel and Egypt during which economic boycotts and warlike propaganda would be eliminated. Diplomas were awarded to 116 graduates, the youngest of them 17-year-old Shachar Ben-Menahem who received a masters degree in physics.
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