Labor Alignment Knesseter Yigal Allon feels that the American government is tending towards the idea of territorial compromise in attempting to find a solution to the deadlocked peace talks between Israel and Egypt. (See related story from Washington, P. 3.)
Speaking at a meeting of the “77 Club” of the Labor Party in Jerusalem, the former Foreign Minister said last night that the Americans will probably attempt to bring up the principle of territorial compromise at the Camp David summit, a move which Allon felt could render the meeting a successful one.
Allon criticized the Begin government for failing to attempt to adapt Israel’s position to that of the U.S. before the Camp David meeting, as former Israeli governments had done on central issues. Allon noted that previous governments had persisted until at least general agreement was obtained between the Israeli and American camps.
Meanwhile, Labor Party leader Shiman Peres suggested a new plan for the West Bank that could be meshed with Premier Menachem Begin’s suggestion for self-rule after a five-year interim period. Peres, speaking to the press at Beit Sokolow in Tel Aviv, the journalists’ headquarters, said that Israeli, Jordanian and West Bank representatives should form mutual committees to handle internal affairs of the area such as health, education and economy while Israel would deal with the military affairs in areas where there are Israeli settlements.
Peres stressed that under this plan there would be no negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organization but only with Jordan and the local population. He suggested that this plan might be included in the proposals Israel would take to Camp David.
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