Israeli Minister of Industry and Trade Ariel Sharon warned Tuesday that an international peace conference on the Middle East is “extremely dangerous” for Israel.
Addressing a special meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Likud Minister asserted that Israel would find itself completely isolated in the much discussed international conference which would be sponsored by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Noting that “even our only friend, the United States,” never accepted Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Sharon said that the other permanent members of the Security Council, the Soviet Union, China, Britain and France, will put pressure on Israel and support the Arab position. He noted that the USSR and China do not have even diplomatic relations with Israel, charging that Moscow has been supporting Arab terror against Israel and had instigated wars against Israel.
Rejecting charges that the Likud is opposed to peace with the Arabs, Sharon said, “Everybody wants peace.” But Sharon said he supports peace through direct negotiations with the Arabs without preconditions and that security must be “a vital factor” in dictating Israel’s borders.
In response to a question, Sharon said that he is opposed to new elections. Noting that public opinion polls show that almost 80 percent of the Israelis share his opinion in that matter, he said that the present unity government should continue in office until November 1988, when new elections are due.
SEEKS HELP ATTRACTING INVESTORS
Turning to more specific issues of his Ministry, Sharon called on the Jewish leaders to help Israel attract foreign investors. He said that in the last two-and-a-half years it became “easier” for foreign investors to invest in Israel and that special attention was given to eliminate the hardships of “red tape.”
Sharon said that he is eager to get in touch with personal investors in the U.S. to “show them the possibilities in Israel.”
According to Sharon, the size of foreign investments in Israel’s economy is small. He said the total investments in Israel in 1985 reached the sum of $1.2 billion, with only $47 million of it in foreign investments.
He said that one of the signs of the improved Israeli economy is the growth in Israel’s export of industrial goods. He said that last year Israel’s industrial exports amounted to $6.3 billion, a 10 percent increase from the previous year.
Sharon arrived in New York Monday for an eight-day visit, mainly on matters relating to his Ministry.
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