A general air of optimism prevailed in Israel today following Premier Menachem Begin’s summit meeting with President Anwar Sadat of Egypt in Ismailia despite disappointment that the meeting did not produce the anticipated joint statement of principles and realization that the gap between Israel and Egypt on the Palestinian issue remains as wide as ever.
Israelis, who were glued to their television sets throughout Begin’s 24-hour sojourn in Ismailia, were encouraged by the fact that the peace-making process appears to have gained momentum from the agreement to establish joint Israeli-Egyptian political and military committees to continue negotiations on the ministerial level.
Their let-down over the lack of an agreement at this stage was due in large measure to expectations stimulated by erroneous local and foreign media reports. Excitement reached a peak yesterday when the Voice of America broadcast that Sadat and Begin would announce agreement on the framework of a peace treaty “in principle.”
While public opinion polls indicate that the majority of Israelis support Begin’s peace plan, an Israeli “rejectionist” bloc was beginning to take shape that could spell serious political trouble for the Premier among his own hard core constituents. These include the militant Gush Emunim, the Greater Israel Movement, members of Begin’s Herut faction and other Likud factions, elements of the Labor Party and Israeli settlers in the occupied territories who are uncertain of their fate should Israeli forces withdraw.
The temper of these groups was reflected by Dr. Herzl Rosenblum, a Yediot Achronot editorial writer and firm supporter of Begin and Herut, who called the Premier’s trip to Ismailia. “the new Munich.” Rosenblum said Begin must accept criticism because he is apparently unable to “check himself” to see what he is doing.
The Gush Emunim has begun discussions with all other settlement movements, including some affiliated with the Labor Party, on the future of settlements beyond the “green line”–the 1967 borders. The Land of Israel Movement said today that it will organize rallies and demonstrations against Begin’s plan and will fight against withdrawal of Israeli forces from the present lines in Sinai and any proposal to grant Arabs on the West Bank and Gaza Strip anything more than limited civilian autonomy on a municipal-regional level.
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.
