Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir warned last night that by getting closer to the “terrorist PLO,” Egypt and Jordan are harming the chance of reaching an accommodation with Israel.
“Egypt and Jordan, which can together lead an Arab camp toward an accommodation with Israel, cannot expect to move any closer to this goal by aligning themselves with the terrorist PLO,” Shamir declared at a Yeshiva University convocation at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where he and Secretary of State George Shultz were awarded honorary degrees.
“Even when the so-called PLO adopts a political program, as it has done in the past, it remains a terrorist group which preaches and practices terror,” the Israeli Minister stated. “Forming a league which includes the PLO constitutes a regressive step which is bound to have a negative impact on the fragile foundation for compromise which was erected at Camp David.”
A POTENTIAL TO STRENGTHEN PEACE
Shamir said that Israel welcomes the resumption of diplomatic ties between Egypt and Jordan, claiming that the alliance between these two countries “has the potential to strengthen the peace camp among the Arab States.” But he repeated that there is no room for the PLO in any future negotiations “because peace and the PLO are mutually exclusive.”
Shamir called on Egypt and Jordan “to take the courageous step of entering into negotiations” with Israel “to implement the Camp David accords and to solve the outstanding problems between our countries.”
‘NO GRADATIONS OF TERROR’
Praising the United States’ firm stand against international terrorism, Shamir said: “There can be no gradations of terror; it is undeniably destructive in whatever form and must be universally castigated and outlawed. What is happening today at Teheran airport is yet another, terrible demonstration of the ugly face of terrorism.”
He was referring to the terrorist hijacking of a Kuwaiti airliner, which was stormed last night by Iranian troops that ended the six-day ordeal during which the terrorists killed two American diplomats and beat other hostages.
Shultz also denounced the terrorist hijacking. He said: “The atrocity of the terrorist hijacking in Teheran (is) a brutal challenge to the international community as well as to the most elementary standards of justice and humanity. One way or another the law-abiding nations of the world will put an end to terrorism and to this barbarism that threatens the very foundations of civilized life.”
SHULTZ: PEACE REQUIRES A STRONG ISRAEL
Referring to the situation in the Middle East, Shultz said the United States believes that “Israel must be strong if a lasting peace in the region is to be achieved.” Declaring that the U.S. is committed to peace through negotiations between Israel and its neighbors, the Secretary of State said: “The Israeli people must be sure of their own security. They must be sure that their very survival can never be in danger, as has happened all too often in the history of the Jewish people. And everyone in the region must realize that violence, aggression and extremism cannot succeed, that negotiations are the only route to peace.”
SHAMIR REQUESTS INCREASED U.S. AID.
After the convocation, Shamir and Shultz conferred for 75 minutes and discussed bilateral issues. Avi Pazner, an aide to Shamir, said after the meeting that Shamir and Shultz discussed at length Israel’s economic crisis. He said that Shamir requested increased American aid and that Shultz was “forthcoming,” although the Secretary said that Israel has first to increase its own measures to improve its economy.
Pazner added that Shamir “did not mention numbers regarding the increased aid Israel wants from Washington. He pointed out that details will be discussed in 10 days when an Israeli economic mission will come to Washington.
Shamir, who flew to Panama for an official visit this morning, was also the keynote speaker at Yeshiva University’s 60th annual dinner that followed the convocation. More than $16 million in cash and pledges were raised during the dinner on behalf of the university.
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