U.S. Reemphasizes Its ‘compromise’ View on West Bank and Gaza Strip

The United States reemphasized today its “compromise” view that Israel and Egypt should join in a commitment for Palestinian elections for an administrative council on the West Bank and Gaza Strip that would be tied to an Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. This view emerged again when the State Department’s chief spokesman, Hodding Carter, said that Secretary of State Cyrus Vance’s interview published in The New York Times Saturday represented the U.S. position.

Carter also reiterated the Department’s assertion, made twice last week, that Israel has not accepted “one element” in the U.S. compromise proposal, meaning “linkage.” In reporting the Vance interview, The Times said “it is understood that the American proposal, in the form of a page and a quarter ‘side letter’ to the treaty text, calls on Egypt and Israel to negotiate in good faith and continuously with the objective of holding elections not later than the end of 1979.”

Carter told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that no transcript of the interview was available but he did not deny or amend any of the statements in it, either attributed to Vance or made by The Times reporter. The Times story said that Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan had “accepted” the “American compromise proposal” on Nov. II.

Israeli sources here, asked about the interview, denied this and explained that it was not up to Dayan to accept or reject the U.S. proposal. They noted that the Israeli Cabinet determines Israel’s position and that it has rejected any linkage of the Palestinian elections with the peace treaty. The sources said the Cabinet accepted the American treaty draft, including the preamble and three annexes but not a “side letter” or any other committing text on linkage.

Egyptian sources are continuing to insist on a linkage timetable although the Camp David accords specifically set forth two frameworks that President Carter has declared are “not legally related.” The U.S. compromise is seen as a “bridge” to enable Egypt to have its way and thereby help appease Arab elements antagonistic to peace negotiations.

U.S. WAITING FOR SADAT’S ANSWER

Hodding Carter said that the U.S. is waiting for President Anwar Sadat’s “answer” to the American “compromise” which may be delivered to U.S. officials tomorrow. After that, he said, the U.S. will consult with both Israel and Egypt on how “next to proceed with both sides.” He refused to accept a suggestion that the Blair House talks are “suspended.”

Carter had no comment on a Damascus report that PLO leader Yasir Arafat told a visiting American Congressman that he was prepared to give Israel tacit de facto recognition if Israel agreed to a Palestinian state. Carter repeated, when asked, that the U.S. position toward the PLO remains unchanged.