Premier Yitzhak Shamir warned tonight that a unilateral abrogation by Lebanon of its May 17 agreement with Israel “would be, first and foremost, a blow to Lebanon’s own sovereignty, to its people and to their chances of freeing themselves from the Syrian grip.”
Shamir, who spoke at a Knesset dinner marking the end of the four-day mission here of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said Israel will not “renounce our signature nor our readiness to carry out the terms of that agreement bilaterally.” But he stressed that no matter what happens, “we shall now protect our interests and ensure the security of our northern border.”
Shamir also warned that Israel “will not tolerate any attempt at reestablishing in Lebanon a terrorist base of operations against Israel or against Israelis in southern Lebanon.”
EGYPT URGED TO RETURN TO SPIRIT OF CAMP DAVID
Turning to Egypt, he said that “apparently the Egyptian government has decided to sacrifice its relations with Israel for the sake of reintegration into the Arab fold.” He was referring to what he said Egypt had been calling the cold peace with Israel.
Shamir called on the Egyptian government “to go back to the path of peace and to the spirit of Camp David. We are ready to resume contacts with Egypt, to discuss all pending issues, to renew the peace process and the autonomy talks. We hope that the U.S. government will exercise its influence on Egypt for the purpose of advancing these objectives.”
ROLE OF USSR ASSESSED
Discussing the Soviet Union, Shamir expressed the hope that the election of Konstantin Chernenko as the new leader of the USSR would mean a re-examination of Soviet policy toward the Middle East and toward Soviet Jewry.
“They could make a substantial contribution to the stability and peace of this vital region of the world by stopping the supply of vast quantities of the most sophisticated weapons to Israel’s enemies, “Shamir said.
He said the Soviet Union should now “show greater understanding of Israel’s national aspirations and legitimate striving.”
He also urged Chernenko “to recognize the right of Jews to repatriation in their homeland, Eretz Yisrael, and to open the gates for their exit.”
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.
