U.S. Ambassador Samuel Lewis expressed optimism today that the stalled autonomy talks between Israel, Egypt and the U.S. would resume very shortly. The talks were suspended by President Anwar Sodat of Egypt last month an grounds that Israeli positions were preventing progress. The Israelis insisted that the Egyptian proposals for Palestinian autonomy on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which they have rejected outright, would jeopardize Israel’s security.
But the American envoy indicated, during a visit to Haifa today, that the peace process could get underway again within a few days, leading to an early resumption of the autonomy negotiations. He said he based his assumption on new ideas he has conveyed to Israel’s chief negotiator, Interior Minister Yosef Burg. Lewis met with Burg this morning but he refused to elaborate on the new ideas before they are presented to Premier Menachem Begin.
Burg met with Begin at noon today, presumably to brief him on his meeting with Lewis. According to some sources, the U.S. has suggested that the autonomy talks be resumed without preconditions by any of the parties. In addition to Burg, the chief negotiators are former Prime Minister Mustapha Khalil of Egypt and U.S. special Ambassador Sol Linowitz. The three men are expected to meet in Washington soon, according to one report. (By Yitzhak Shargil)
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