Declaring that from Israel’s point of view, the summit talks in Moscow “were satisfactory,” Yosef Tekoah, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, said today that Israel must nevertheless continue its defense preparations even though it is grateful for “the present era of relative tranquility.” Tekoah was addressing the 43rd convention of the National Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs here.
Receiving the 1972 award for distinguished service to Jewry, Tekoah said that President Anwar Sadat of Egypt “has made it clear that in his view the resumption of battle is inevitable.” He said that the summit talks in Moscow were hopeful to Israel because they indicate that the two super powers “are more interested in improving their bilateral interest than in trying to impose an outside dictated peace on Israel and Egypt.”
Peace between Israel and the Arab states, the ambassador stated, can only be achieved by “direct negotiations.” He expressed optimism about the inauguration of talks leading to the reopening of the Suez Canal as representing “the more practical approach to the beginnings of peace in the Middle East.” But he saw little hope that any good would come out of resumption of the Jarring talks under UN auspices.
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