Israel Confident That Last Minute Hitches Will Not Stall Geneva Talks by David Landau, JTA Jerusalem

As the week wears on, Israel remains confident that despite last minute hitches the peace conference will begin next Tuesday in Geneva as planned The hitches are twofold Egypt is demanding that the conference be held under United Nations auspices not under the joint. U.S-Soviet auspices originally intended by Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and Soviet Communist Party Secretary Leonid I. Brezhnev. Kissinger in his verbal invitation to Israel spoke of UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim’s “participation.”

The superpowers’ intention was to have Waldheim participate in some kind of observer status to ensure vicarious participation by “the rest of the world,” through the UN Secretary General, while at the same time precluding, by his participation, any efforts by the rest of the world–and especially Europe and the so-called neutrals–to involve themselves directly in the conference. Egypt seeks UN auspices to give greater influence to its friends in Europe, Africa and Asia. For Israel, in its present state of diplomatic isolation, any addition to the U.S.-Soviet auspices would be undesirable.

Observers here believe that a firm U.S. stance will ultimately ensure that the conference takes place in its originally intended format and that Egypt will eventually relent in its demands, A key “role in persuading Egypt will, of course, be played by the Soviet Union.

Observers here feel that at present at least the USSR is manifesting a desire that the conference take place and not be “torpedoed” at the last moment. The USSR’s sole auspices with the U.S. gives her political weight which she–like the Americans–will no want to share with Waldheim, Europe or the Third World. The appraisal in Jerusalem is that if the two superpowers stand firm on their original intentions–as at the time of this writing they seem to be doing–the Egyptian objections will dissolve.

Another hitch is Syria’s refusal to release lists of POWs or allow Red Cross visits as the Geneva Convention demands. Israel’s decision is not to sit down with Syria–not even at the formal opening session–unless and until this is complied with. Whether the Israeli decision means that if the Syrians do not comply with the Convention provisions, Israel will simply not go to Geneva, or whether it means Israel will go but leave the hall if the Syrians appear is not immediately clear.

SUBSTANTIVE TALKS NOT DUE TILL JAN

Either way there is optimism here that this hitch, too, will be ironed out before Tuesday. Defense Minister Moshe Dayan gave public expression to that optimism in a radio Interview yesterday. Observers here feel that very strong pressure being exerted on Damascus by both Washington and Moscow will pay dividends and that Syria will comply, or refusing, will not show up to torpedo the conference.

The opening session will last three days and all participants are expected to deliver general addresses outlining their positions. Israeli sources caution that the picture emerging from this opening session will inevitably be one of a very wide gulf between the Arab and Israeli positions and warn against feelings of hopelessness as a result. The substantive negotiations will not begin until Jan. although the issue of disengagement might well be tackled Immediately after the opening session. If that is the case, Gen. Aharon Yariv will accompany Israel’s mission and will lead those talks once again.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet will meet here Friday for its final pre-Geneva debate, with Dayan reporting on his Washington meetings and Ambassador Simcha Dinitz helping the Ministers prepare for Kissinger’s visit which starts Sunday Kissinger starts Sunday, Kissinger will hold two sessions with Premier Golda Meir– one Sunday and one Monday morning, and will also meet with Dayan, Foreign Minister Abba Eban, Deputy Premier Yigal Allon and perhaps with the army top commanders. He will hold the talks in Jerusalem and spend Sunday night at the King David Hotel. The Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee has asked to meet with him. The final answer apparently will depend on his time schedule.

Authoritative sources said that there have been no overtures from the Kremlin before Geneva with a view to re-establishing diplomatic ties. The sources pointed out that by precedent Israel will be able to maintain direct contact with a Russian chairman of the peace talks despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties. This has been the case in other international bodies where Israeli-delegates can approach Soviet or even Arab chairmen on the business of the particular committee.