Rabin; There is ‘movement’ Toward Accord but ‘key’ Issues Remain

Premier Yitzhak Rabin sought today to assess a steadily mounting flow of optimistic reports on the pace of negotiations for a second Sinai interim accord by declaring there was “movement” toward completion of an agreement but that several “key issues” remained to be resolved.

Rabin made his comment in response to questions from newsmen at a press conference he held here with visiting Mexican President Luis Echeverria, Rabin added that Israel was trying to clarify the key issues and suggested he preferred not to make any predictions as to how and when those differences would be resolved.

The Premier rejected a suggestion from another newsman that Israel had backed away from its acceptance of the United Nations Security. Council’s Resolutions 242 of 1967 and 338 of 1973. He said he wanted to make it clear that Israel had accepted those resolutions as the basis for peace agreements but he added that the essence of peace-making was the responsibility of those involved in the conflict.

Rabin said Israel was ready to start negotiations with the Arab countries on the basis of the resolutions but he maintained that the resolutions were not “self-implementing” and that a lengthy process of decision-making was needed to implement the resolutions.

To newsmen’s queries about Arab-Jed “third world” attempts to suspend or expel Israel from the United Nations, Rabin responded that “any attempt” to “diminish Israel of its full membership in the United Nations is opposed to the basic philosophy and concept of the UN, which is based on the concept of its universality.”

TIME OPPORTUNE FOR IMMEDIATE ACCORD

In a communique issued at the close of the Rabin-Echeverria meetings, the two leaders said that, in reviewing the international situation, they shared in the belief that it was indispensable that all states intensify their efforts to ensure an era of justice in the world. The communique said “The time is now opportune for an immediate peace settlement between Israel and her neighbors.”

The Mexican president, who departed today for Amman with the same fanfare he received on his arrival last Thursday, spoke bluntly Thursday night at a reception given him by President Ephraim Katzir. Echeverria declared that Israel should withdraw from the occupied areas and solve the Palestinian problem “morally and equitably.”

He asserted that secure borders were not attained solely by territorial means in this era of modern warfare. He told the assembled guests at the President’s Jerusalem home that to return the occupied areas would be a step toward peace.

ROLE OF PLO DISCUSSED

Earlier in the evening Echeverria and his Foreign-Minister, Emilio Rabaso, had dinner with Rabin and also met with Rabin alone to discuss the Palestinian problem in depth. The Israeli leaders reportedly stressed that the ultimate aim of the Palestine Liberation Organization — whose leader Yassir Arafat, Echeverria had a warm meeting with in Egypt last Tuesday — was to replace Israel and not just to set up a Palestinian state alongside Israel. The Israelis cited official PLO documents as proof.

The Israeli officials indicated they were gratified that the Mexican President did not refer specifically to the PLO in his speech at the reception later in which he also urged the Jewish people to show consideration for the moral aspect of the Palestinian problem. He also urged the Arabs to show pragmatism. The implication of those two urgings seemed to indicate a recommendation from him that both sides agree to a Palestinian state on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, not in pre- 1967 Israel.

Echeverria also insisted that the Mideast deadlock be solved only through international action and by the contending parties obeying the UN resolutions. He obliquely criticized Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger’s Mideast diplomacy in saying that Mideast peace could not come “behind the back of” the UN or only in accordance with the interests of the great powers.

A Mexican official traveling with Echeverria said the Mexican President was firmly opposed to expelling or suspending any member from the UN and had made this known during talks with Arab leaders on this current Mideast tour. Echeverria promised, at a luncheon at Israeli Foreign Minister Yigal Allon’s kibbutz yesterday, to back Israel’s continued membership in the UN.

EXPLAINS MEETING WITH ARAFAT

Echeverria was awarded an honorary degree in philosophy by Tel Aviv University in a ceremony today in the university’s Mexico building. Prof. Ben. Sachar, president of the University, greeted the Mexican leader, Dr. George S. Wise, chairman of the Israel-Mexico Friendship Association and founder of the University, spoke about the career of the Mexican leader. Later Echeverria paid a courtesy call on Mrs. Golda Meir at her home. The former Premier said later she felt Echeverria had been very much impressed by what he saw and heard during his four-day visit to Israel and that he was convinced of Israel’s true desire for peace.

When Echeverria emerged from the university, he was met by a group of demonstrating students, mostly of the Herut party, who protested against the Mexican leader’s meeting with Arafat. They chanted “Mexico, yes — Arafat, no.” Echeverria promptly walked over to the demonstrators and told them his meeting with Arafat was in the interest of peace. He was show pictures of terrorist atrocities carried out by Arafat’s terrorists, at Maalot, Kiryat Shemona and other places in Israel.

Some of the students criticized pictures of Echeverria embracing Arafat. Echeverria replied that the embrace was a “gesture of courtesy” and that he was acting to prevent the exclusion or suspension of Israel from the UN. The demonstrating students then warmly applauded the Mexican leader.