— U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Michael Sterner ended two days of discussions here today over the multinational peacekeeping force to police Sinai after Israel withdraws next year. While no agreements were reached, Sterner, who met with Egyptian leaders on the subject in Cairo before coming to Israel Monday, said “The areas of agreement are far wider than the areas of difference” between the two countries.
He noted at a press conference today that “This is the first round in which we have attempted to commit some of this to writing.” He was apparently referring to an American draft paper that figured in the discussions here over the last two days. Sterner said the issues involved would be touched on by Secretary of State Alexander Haig when he visits Israel next week. Haig is scheduled to leave Washington Friday for the Middle East and will visit Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in addition to Israel.
ISSUES UNDER DISCUSSION
David Kimche, Director General of the Foreign Ministry, said the talks with Sterner provided a “very useful clarification” but that another round of talks was necessary. Among the issues discussed were the composition of the peacekeeping force and the facilities it would need to discharge its mandate.
Sterner said today that it would be reasonable to expect that the force would need an airstrip somewhere in Sinai. He spoke of the possible use of the Etzion and Eitam military airfields built by Israel. They will be evacuated in the final stage of Israel’s withdrawal from Sinai in April, 1982. Israel refuses to hand them over to Egypt but is prepared to discuss an American presence at the airfields.
Sterner said that if Israel left them intact there was a good possibility that they would be used by the multi-national force, provided that Egypt agreed. Kimche declined to elaborate on Israel’s position with respect to that suggestion.
The overriding issue, however, is the makeup of the multi-national force. So far there has been a very poor response from the various nations canvassed. Egyptian Foreign Minister Kamal Hassan Ali personally toured the Scandinavian countries to try to convince them to contribute troops but reportedly got nowhere. Sterner refused to answer questions as to whether the U.S. would agree to provide manpower if no other countries participated.
Under the terms of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, the U.S. is committed to create a multi-national force if the United Nations Security Council proves unable to do so. Kimche said it was “highly unlikely” that the UN would take over the peacekeeping role. Any resolution to that effect is almost certain to be vetoed by the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, Egypt wants to continue to explore the possibility of a UN force and Kimche said Israel had no objections.
There are sharp differences between the two countries over the size of the force. Israel has suggested a 4000-man force but the Egyptians prefer to limit it to no more than a few hundred.
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