Authoritative sources here differed today in their assessments of the meaning and purpose of Israeli Premier Menachem Begin’s surprise trip to the U.S. for a meeting with President Carter at the White House on Friday. In announcing the visit last night, the White House said the President and Premier would discuss “the latest developments in the search for peace in the Middle East” and exchange views on “how best to continue the movement” towards “a just peace settlement.”
Israeli sources said today that the two leaders will seek to “closely coordinate” American and Israeli policies looking toward a final peace settlement. An informed American source said Begin was prepared to present Carter with the draft of a peace treaty that Israel will offer President Anwar Sadat of Egypt at the Cairo conference and later to the other Arab states. His purpose, this source said, was to involve the President in the process. The source spoke of “a moment of decision” and claimed that Israel was offering concessions of “historic” importance.
But senior U.S. officials cautioned against viewing Begin’s sudden journey as signifying either a crisis or ” an indication of some momentous breakthrough.” They said his visit represents “a process of consultation and positive development.” Undersecretary of State Philip Habib, who was in Damascus yesterday with Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, reportedly remarked that Begin wants to discuss “bold” and “positive” Israeli responses to Sadat’s peace initiative. Vance, who is in Saudi Arabia today, will return to Washington in time for the Carter-Begin meeting Friday.
Presidential News Secretary Jody Powell, in making the announcement last night of Begin’s visit, said there are no plans for President Anwar Sadat of Egypt or other Arab leaders to come to Washington. While Israeli sources said that the Premier will seek to coordinate Israeli policy “closely” with U.S. policy, they gave no inkling of modifications that would have to be made by one or the other and, as would appear likely, by both since up to now the Carter and Begin policies have been wide apart on certain territorial issues and the Palestinian question.
BEGIN: ON MISSION IN SERVICE OF PEACE
Early this afternoon, Begin arrived at Kennedy Airport in New York and said he had come with a “feeling of a mission in the service of peace.” At a brief airport press conference, Begin also expressed his gratitude to President Carter for agreeing to see him on such short notice. The EI AI plane which brought the Premier and his party to the U.S. was about 15 minutes late because of the rain.
Begin also told reporters he hoped that his visit to Washington “will be a contribution to the peace-making process because it is the President who made the greatest contribution to the events which took place and made possible the Cairo conference.” He said that “we are now at a propitious time to make real efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.”
The Premier was greeted at the airport by Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz; Chaim Herzog, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, and Uri Ben Ari, the Consul General of Israel in New York. Begin is due to fly to Washington tomorrow afternoon. Carter is sending Air Force One, the official Presidential plane to bring him to Washington. His one-day stay in New York was described as a rest stop ordered by Begin’s doctors. But the Premier reportedly plans to meet with Jewish leaders and other friends there. He is staying at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
Carter will hold a press conference tomorrow and Begin has one scheduled in Washington for Friday afternoon after his meeting with the President. He will be in Washington Saturday and Sunday for further talks and returns to Israel Monday.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
