Rabin, Israel Can Defend Herself but Not Against a Super-power

Premier Yitzhak Rabin said last night that Israel was capable of defending itself under any circumstances, except in the case of a super-power–meaning the Soviet Union–actively arrayed against it. “If a super-power against which even the whole of Europe cannot stand alone is against us, then, with all due respect to Israel, it cannot stand alone either,” Rabin told students during a question-and-answer session at Bar Ilan University.

The Premier was replying to questions on reports that the United States was studying guarantees to Israel and possibly a defense pact to back up a settlement with Egypt and other Arab countries. Rabin stressed that guarantees or defense pacts, however assuring, were no substitute for Israel’s ability to defend itself with its own forces. The Premier reiterated his belief that Egypt was the key to a Middle East settlement. He reminded the students that the Soviet Union continues to ignore Israel and arm the Arab states.

In a related development, Defense Minister Shimon Peres said yesterday that Kissinger’s latest peace effort had not changed the situation in the Mideast but merely clarified positions on both sides. In an interview with Radio Station Europe Number One, Peres also stated that Egypt and Syria had failed to come up with any new solutions to the conflict. “We have had no serious proposition from the Egyptians on the political level, neither officially nor otherwise. For me, the best thing is direct contact between us and the Egyptians, even somewhere in the Sinai. There we could make a decisive step toward peace.” Peres said he thought an acceptable solution would be the return of the Mitle and Gidi passes to Egypt and for Israel to retain Sharm el-Sheikh.