Rabin Hopeful Israeli-arab Talks Will Be Conducted on Highest Diplomatic Level

Gen. Yitzhak Rabin. Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, said today that he hoped the impending Arab-Israeli peace talks under the auspices of Gunnar Jarring will be conducted on the highest diplomatic level. “Since our intentions are serious, we hope the representation will be on a high level. The higher the level, the more serious the negotiations.” he said. Ambassador Rabin spoke to newsmen after emerging from two-and-a-half hours at the State Department where he met with Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Joseph J. Sisco. The Israeli envoy returned to Washington last night from Jerusalem where he was summoned for consultations several days ago. He said that Dr. Tarring, the United Nations’ special envoy for the Mideast, is trying to work out the level of representation and the site of the negotiations among the parties concerned.

Mr. Rabin said that in Israel’s view, “the closer the site is to the Middle East, the better.” He said he could not say who Israel’s representative at the talks will be. “When it is decided, Jr. Jarring will be the first to know,” he said. Asked the purpose of his visit to the State Department today. Ambassador Rabin said that all countries which have accepted the U.S. peace initiative are maintaining close contact with the U.S. government “and this is part of it.” A reporter who asked if he was “upset” by the omission of Israel’s conditions for withdrawal from occupied territories in Ambassador Jarring’s letter to UN Secretary General U Thant, was told by Gen. Rabin: “I believe that our position has been made clear in our reply to the U.S. government’s initiative. It has not been changed.” Ambassador Rabin said there were “mixed feelings” in Israel about the 90-day cease-fire. “People have to think a little forward to see what the outcome will be.” Asked to assess Mideast peace prospects, Gen. Rabin replied, “When it comes to peace in the Middle East I am no prophet.”