The White House spokesman said today that Premier Begin’s announced intention to resign was considered “an internal matter” of Israel’s government which appeared to be unrelated to President Reagan’s reiteration yesterday of the Administration’s off-stated view that Jewish settlements on the West Bank are an obstacle to peace.
Larry Speakes said the Begin announcement “is an internal matter with the Israeli government,” that the Reagan Administration saw no link with the President’s reiteration of his view that the settlements hindered peace and that the White House would have no other comment.
Speakes said the Reagan Administration was not given any advance knowledge on the Premier’s statement to the Cabinet and that the White House learned about it through a telephone call from Ambassador Meir Rosenne of Israel. The statement by Speakes was issued in Santa Barbara where Reagan is vacationing.
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