Israeli Defense Minister Ezer Weizman and Assistant Secretary of State Harold Saunders, whose heated dispute at an Israeli Embassy party here last Saturday night made headlines around the world, renewed their good elations before television cameras in the diplomatic lobby of the State Department today.
The two men have been engaged in discussions with Egyptian representatives concerning, primarily, the issue of monitoring in Sinai during Israel’s withdrawal from the peninsula. Weizman is returning to Israel this afternoon and the State Department announced earlier that he and Sounders would meet the press, a gesture toward amicability between the two democracies.
” I just want especially to say goodbye to my friend Hal Saunders,” Weizman said. “Today we were very calm and as usual, extremely friendly. I hope to see you in Israel very soon, “he said to Saunders. The American diplomat replied, “I look forward to that very much Ezer and I have known each other for 15 years. We have discussed many things over the years and always came out of it with smiles — as we do today.”
Weizman interjected, “That’s right, that’s good.” Before they stepped up to the microphones Weizman was heard to remark to Saunders, “I was very sorry it blew up like that,” a reference to their dispute, adding, “but this is it, this is a democracy.” Weizman also observed, “With Kamal (Egyptian Defense Minister Kamal Hassan Ali, a participant in the Sinai discussions) we have no problems, absolutely. So here we are.” Hassan Ali did not appear with Weizman and Saunders.
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