‘the Old Lady’ and the President

President Anwar Sadat heard today an emotional discourse on Israel’s sincere desire for peace from a lady he had always called “the old lady,” Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel’s former Premier.

“As an old lady, who has grandchildren, may I present you a gift for your new granddaughter,” Golda said concluding her speech at a special meeting with the Labor Alignment Knesset faction. Sadat reacted to Golda’s remarks on the old lady, with an embarrassed laugh, explaining to Shimon Peres, the Alignment leader, sitting to his left: “I always call her that.”

The meeting at the Alignment faction was one of several meetings Sadat conducted with the various Knesset factions, at his own request. In fact. when Sadat first declared his intention to visit the Knesset, he insisted that he would be allowed to meet with the factions.

Golda recounted that at the time she served as Premier, she had always hoped for the day she would meet with an Arab leader, “and there you are, a great Arab leader of a great Arab country.” She praised Sadat for coming, because, according to her, no matter how good an intermediary can be, “if I can talk to you, if I can see you, that’s something different.”

NEED FOR TERRITORIAL COMPROMISE

She stressed the need for territorial compromises on all frontiers, and explained the reasons for her opposition to a Palestinian state in the West Bank. “We cannot allow such a state within 10 miles of our coast,” she said. “We cannot solve the misery of the Palestinians on account of the security of the State of Israel.”

Golda acknowledged that there was Palestinian misery–and it needed to be solved. “And a solution is possible,” she said, referring to an agreement with Jordan, which would take into consideration the rights of the Palestinians. Golda stressed that as a mother she felt everything should be done to spare the lives of soldiers, whether they are Israelis or Egyptians.

PRAISES SPEECH BY PERES

Sadat responded by noting that after the 1973 war both himself and Golda contributed to the process of peace. He noted that he was aware of Israel’s need for security, but differed with the Israelis on the definition of security. Referring to the speech by Peres to the Knesset yesterday, Sadat said it was a very constructive speech.

(A high aide in the Egyptian delegation said Peres’ speech could have served as a basis for negotiations. Asked about the same subject in the press conference later, Sadat again stressed the importance of Peres’ speech, although, he said, he differed with many of the things he said.)

Sadat’s meeting with the Alignment faction came after meetings with the government coalition factions and with other opposition factions. Short speeches were held in each one of them, with Sadat making a short comment afterwards.

When meeting with Sheli Knesseters Meir Payil and Arye Eliav, Sadat told Eliav: “Although I am in Cairo and you are here, I follow your work and I appreciate it.” Eliav told him that he felt the withdrawal from occupied territories and the recognition of Palestinian rights was not only good for the Arabs–but also for the Israelis.