The possibilities of a new interim agreement with Syria along the lines of the one just concluded with Egypt was on the minds of Israeli officials and political pundits here today. With the ink hardly dry on the new Sinai accord, Cabinet members were asking Premier Yitzhak Rabin and Foreign Minister Yigal Allon what the future–and Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger–have in store for Israel.
The beginnings of negotiations for a pact with Syria on the Golan Heights seemed to be the next step, though probably many months away. In his brief speech at the signing ceremonies in Rabin’s office yesterday, Kissinger dropped significant hints that the U.S. would hold itself ready and available for further diplomatic progress. At an earlier background briefing for reporters at Kissinger’s hotel, a senior American official said the U.S. “favors” an interim negotiation with Syria.
ANOTHER SHUTTLE ROUND FORESEEN
The official said that if new negotiations with Syria were to begin, they would have to develop along the lines of the new accord concluded with Egypt. The scenario would consist of diplomatic feelers, followed by diplomatic contacts in Washington to narrow most of the gaps between the two sides. Only after that was accomplished would there be a round of intensive “shuttle” diplomacy aimed at wrapping up an agreement, the official indicated.
Israeli newspapers said today that the U.S. and Israel have reached an informal understanding that attempts to explore possible talks with Syria would begin before the end of the year. The unpublished U.S.-Israel memorandum which is part of the interim agreement with Egypt reportedly contains an undertaking by Washington not to press Israel for territorial concessions on the Golan Heights beyond the minor adjustment which Rabin indicated were feasible when he visited Washington last June.
Defense Minister Shimon Peres noted that a majority of the Cabinet would oppose any agreement that involved the removal of Israeli settlements established on the Golan Heights. Most of these settlements are located right on the disengagement border which is almost identical to the post-1967 lines.
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