Reagan Proposes a U.S. ‘peace Initiative’ for the Middle East

President Reagan proposed an “American peace initiative” for the Middle East last night in which he made it clear that the United States defines autonomy for the Palestinians on the West Bank and Gaza Strip as “self-government” and believes it can best be achieved in “association with Jordan.”

“It is the firm view of the United States that self-government by the Palestinians on the West Bank and Gaza, in association with Jordan, offers the best chance for a durable, just and lasting peace,” the President said in a nationally-televised address from California where he is vacationing.

Reagan also stressed that the U.S. will not support an “independent Palestinian state” or Israel’s “annexation or permanent control” over the West Bank and Gaza. He urged the Palestinians and the Arab states to recognize the State of Israel, and declared that “Jerusalem must remain undivided” with its final status agreed upon through negotiations.

Reagan also celled for an immediate freeze by Israel of Jewish settlements on the West Bank. “Indeed the immediate adoption of a settlement freeze by Israel, more than any other action could create the confidence needed for wider participation in these (the autonomy) talks,” he said. “Further settlement activities is in no way necessary for the security of Israel and only diminishes the confidence of the Arabs that the final outcome can be freely and fairly negotiated.”

FIRST OUTLINE OF U.S. MIDEAST POLICY

The President’s speech last night, which he said marked the completion of the evacuation by the Palestine Liberation Organization from Beirut, was his first outline of a Mideast policy since taking office. He said that full details of his proposal which followed two weeks of discussion here and abroad, were presented this week by the U.S. Ambassadors to Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

The details presented in a letter yesterday by Premier Menachem Begin Tuesday sparked a furor in Israel yesterday and caused Begin to schedule a special Cabinet meeting today. It is believed here that Reagan’s hastily scheduled television appearance last night was on attempt by the President to make his proposals public before the Israeli government acted.

Reagan stressed last night that the U.S. approach is based “squarely on the principle that the Arab-Israel conflict should be resolved through negotiations involving exchange of territory for peace. This exchange is enshrined in United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 which in turn is incorporated in all its parts in the Camp David agreements.”

STRESSES U.S. COMMITMENT TO ISRAEL

Throughout his address, Reagan stressed the U.S. continuing commitment to Israel’s security He said when the final border is negotiated between Israel and Jordan, “our view on the extent to which Israel should be asked to give up territory will be heavily affected by the extent of true peace and normalization and the security arrangements offered in return.”

He seemed to imply that Israel’s withdrawal would not be to the pre-1967 borders which he noted had left Israel only 10 miles wide and with most of its population in artillery range from its enemies. “I am not about to ask Israel to live through that again,” he said.

Reagan said “The United States will oppose any proposal from any party and at any point in the negotiating process that threatens the security of Israel. America’s commitment to the security of Israel is ironclad. And I might add, so is mine.”

ASSESSES OUTCOME OF WAR IN LEBANON

At the start of his talk, Reagan said that Americans should be “proud” of the outcome in Lebanon since the “peaceful” departure of the PLO “could never have been taken without the good offices of the United States and especially the truly heroic work of a great American diplomat, Philip Habib.”He said the marines sent in to facilitate the PLO evacuation will be able to leave within two weeks.

“The Lebanon war, tragic as it was, has left us with new opportunity for the Middle East,” Reagan said. “We must seize it now and bring peace to this troubled area so vital to world stability while there is still time.”

He said the first step is to rebuild Lebanon because “a stable and revived Lebanon is essential for all our hopes in the region.” But most of his talk was concentrated on the autonomy negotiations. Reagan noted that the departure of the PLO dramatizes the “homelessness of the Palestinian people.”He said that the Camp David agreements calls for addressing the “legitimate rights of the Palestinians.”

REAGAN CITES TWO LESSONS

The President said two lessons can be learned from the Lebanon war. “First the military losses of the PLO have not diminished the yearning of the Palestinian people for a just solution of their claim” he said. “Second, while Israel’s military successes in Lebanon have demonstrated that its armed forces are second to none in the region, they alone cannot bring a just and lasting peace to Israel and her neighbors.” He continued “I call on the Palestinian people to recognize that their own political aspirations are inextricably bound to recognition of Israel’s right to a secure future. And I call on the Arab states to accept the reality of Israel and the reality that peace and justice are to be gained only through hard and fair direct negotiations.”

The President’s speech last night was the first time the U.S. had made public proposals for a solution to the deadlocked autonomy talks. Reagan stressed that the U.S. has been a “mediator” in the talks between Egypt and Israel. “In the course of negotiations to come, the United States will support positions that seem to us fair and reasonable compromises and likely to promote a sound agreement,” Reagan said. “We will also put forward our own detailed proposals when we believe they can be helpful.”