Weizman Delighted over Shaka Decision

Israel’s Defense Minister Ezer Weizman today expressed his “delight” at the revocation of the deportation order against Mayor Bassam Shaka of Nablus, and stressed that the decision was taken by the Israeli military authorities and not at the behest of the government. Weizman gave the news at a luncheon with British newspaper editors, during which he received a telephone call from Israel and was told that Shaka had conveyed his regards to him.

It was Weizman’s only encounter with the press during a 24-hour visit here as a guest of the Joint Israel Appeal. In his address, Weizman complained about the lack of support which Europe has been giving to the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. He said Europe had completely underrated the sincerity and growing momentum of the Egyptian-Israeli relationship, as well as its importance as a stabilizing factor in the Middle East. This momentum would grow even more following the establishment of diplomatic relations, he said.

In Egypt it was dependent not only on President Anwar Sadat but had deep popular support. It was also having a beneficial effect on Jordan and other countries on Israel’s eastern flank, despite their outward opposition to Camp David, Weizman said. In this context, he deplored Britain’s decisions to sell Jordan 275 Chieftain tanks, saying the sale would complicate matters for Jordan as well as Israel.

Answering questions about Jewish settlements on the West Bank, he said he would not support any legislation which deprived Arabs of their land, nor would he support steps to prevent Jews from purchasing land legally. There was no parallel between the West Bank and northern Sinai where Israel had given up settlements in exchange for peace with Egypt, he said.