Premier Yitzhak Rabin responded sharply today to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s interview in Le Mondez, Tuesday in which he gave Israel three months of offer concessions on all Arab fronts or face a new war. Israel totally rejects “deadlines” dictated by the Arabs for reaching a settlement, Rabin declared in an address to members of the Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal mission currently visiting Israel. Declarations like “year of decision” or “within three months” made by Arab leaders do not bind Israel in any way, he said.
Rabin’s remarks were the first official Israeli reaction to the Sadat interview which included a demand that Israel negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organization and linked further Egyptian negotiations with Israel to Israeli negotiations with Syria and Jordan.
Rabin said in reply to these statements that Israel’s position was simple: “Israel is ready to negotiate peace with every and all Arab states without pre-conditions. Israel is ready to reach interim arrangements with Egypt as steps toward reaching a final settlement.” But, Rabin added, “Israel cannot regard itself bound by deadlines set by Arabs, whether ‘a year of decision’ or within three months.”
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