Differences have arisen between Israel and Egypt in their peace talks here. But the precise nature and degree of seriousness are not being divulged as U.S. mediators continued to try to resolve the matter. The spokesman for the conferees, State Department official George Sherman, told reporters today that there is “no crisis, no deadlock, no emergency.”
Some informed observers felt, however, that the sticking points revolved around Cairo’s desire for Israel to concede changes in favor of the Arab perceptions on major issues outside of Sinai before it agrees to a “full peace treaty” and “normal relations” with Israel. Israel it is said, wants a treaty with Egypt to be completed without “linkage” to the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Palestinian Arab and East Jerusalem issues, apart from what has already been agreed to and formalized in the Camp David frameworks.
The Egyptian negotiators were reportedly willing to conclude a limited peace treaty with Israel but not a full accord until Israel makes the desired concessions. The Israelis hold that anything short of a full peace treaty cannot bring about the removal of settlements from Sinai or the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from that territory.
It was this situation, reportedly, that prompted President Carter to hold separate meetings with the Israeli and Egyptian delegations at the White House yesterday. It is not clear who actually wanted the meetings. Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan said, after his session with Carter, that he had turned to the President for help because of “difficulties” with the Egyptians.
But Carter said, after Dayan’s remarks, that the meetings “do not imply there is any particular problem.” He said “I wanted a report from both delegations” about the status of progress and what issues were still unresolved.
CONCENTRATING ON BILATERAL MATTERS
Today, special Ambassador Alfred L. Atherton, acting head of the American delegation, conferred separately with the Israelis and Egyptians at the Madison Hotel where both delegations were quartered. Afterwards, Sherman told the press that neither confusion nor crisis exists.
“There is more confusion among the press than among the delegations, “he said.”The essence of negotiations is to resolve differences. We have never disguised the fact that there are differences. If there weren’t, the negotiations would be over,” Sherman said. He added: “The negotiations go on over agreeing on still unresolved language in the treaty. None of us feel that there are concerns that have been raised that cannot be met.” He said the negotiators were concentrating on bilateral matters today.
Sherman announced that Assistant Secretary of State Harold Saunders, who flew to Amman Sunday, presented King Hussein of Jordan with the American answers to Hussein’s questions on the Camp David accords yesterday. Saunders was in Jidda today to confer with Saudi Arabian officials and will visit Israel before returning to Washington.
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