Rogers’ Visit to Israel Marred by Sharp Differences Between U.s., Israel

Secretary of State William P. Rogers is expected here on May 7 or 8 at the wind-up of his Middle East visit that will take him to four Arab capitals before he lands in Israel. While his visit is welcomed, the atmosphere of cordiality may be severely strained by the sharply divergent views that have developed in recent weeks between Washington and Jerusalem over an interim arrangement to reopen the Suez Canal and other matters, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency learned. Some quarters here scarcely conceal their resentment of the fact that Rogers selected Israel for the final stop on what is his first visit to the Middle East. The JTA learned from very reliable source today that Rogers’ meeting with Deputy Premier Yigal Allon in Washington a week ago was marked by anything but mutual understanding. The sources said reports received here from Washington described the meeting as “unpleasant.” Allon’s remark when he emerged from it that “I am wiser now than when I came” was called an understatement. The sources said that Rogers was “very tough” and “virtually told Allon off,” He was quoted as having said, “I cannot understand you Israelis. I am getting the impression that you are doing all you can to frustrate an agreement with Egypt.” According to the source, Rogers expressed the opinion that the Soviet Union and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt were sincerely interested in preventing a renewal of fighting. When Allon said that Israel’s position served American interests in the region, Rogers reportedly replied sharply, “Please let us judge what America’s best interests are just as Israel claims the right to decide what serves her own interests.”

Rogers will encounter still another diplomatic problem when he arrives here. He will have to decide whether or not to receive a deputation of West Bank Arab notables. The Israeli government has no objection but the Jordanian government does. If Rogers receives the Arabs, King Hussein will feel hurt and if he doesn’t he will offend the West Bank Arabs, Israeli sources said. The group that wants to see Rogers is headed by Aziz Shehadeh, a Nablus attorney who is one of the prime movers of the anti-Hussein movement on the West Bank. Apparently they want to discuss their demands for a Palestinian state with Rogers. The group applied for an audience with the U.S. Consul in Jerusalem and their request has been forwarded to Washington. In the past, local Arabs have met with Western diplomats visiting Israel. One was Gov. William Scranton who came here late in 1968 on a fact-finding mission for President-elect Nixon; the other was the then British Foreign Secretary George Brown. In both instances the Amman government disapproved. Foreign Minister Abba Eban reviewed political developments at today’s Cabinet meeting, according to an official communique. The JTA learned from reliable sources that Israel is still waiting for the clarifications it requested from the U.S. regarding the proposed interim arrangement with Egypt on the Suez Canal.