Egypt, Israel and the United States will resume negotiations on autonomy for the West Bank and Gaza Strip, probably this Thursday, July 10, in Cairo. But there will be no deadline to achieve agreement. The negotiations were suspended in May by President Anwar Sadat because of lack of progress. The announcement that the three parties have set a date for their resumption was made at the State Department Thursday following a series of meetings between President Carter, U.S. special Ambassador Sol Linowitz, and the chief negotiators of Israel and Egypt, interior Minister Yosef Burg and Foreign Minister Kamal Hassan Ali. There were no indications that Carter offered any special inducement to revive the stalled talks.
Linowitz said of a press conference that the agreement to resume negotiations “does not mean differences have been overcome” but “resolution of the differences can best be achieved within the context of negotiations. “He said the U.S. has not offered a “draft” plan but that “we put ideas.” He did not elaborate. He emphasized that “today we know both parties are determined to go forward,” a “mechanism is set up” and issues are being “ventilated.” When Burg was asked about a deadline for agreement, He replied, “We have a target but not a target date. “He said Israel wanted the discussions to go on until on agreement is achieved.
EGYPTIAN EXPLAINS POSITION
Asked what altered Egypt’s position since it was Sadat who suspended the talks, Ali said, “We agreed everything is negotiable” and “we have to negotiate and have to come to a conclusion on every point. I hope by the Camp David agreements we will come to good conclusions for every part of the area and a comprehensive peace.” Asked if Jerusalem is now an “up front issue,” Ali said “There is no priority” of negotiating issues. He emphasized that “everything is to be negotiated order the Camp David accords and implement (United Nations Security Council Resolution) 242.”
Ali also said “Both of us (he and Burg) agree publicly to keep the tone down and not explore issues not under discussion.” He made that remark when questioned by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency about a statement made a day earlier by Osama el Baz, a member of the Egyptian negotiating team. Baz said on the ABC television program “Good Morning America” that Israel should refrain from actions that “poison the atmosphere of the negotiations.” He mentioned in that connection “Jerusalem and the settlements.”
Burg was asked if Jerusalem would be discussed. He replied, “It will be discussed but not negotiated.” He explained that discussion meant “clarifying our points” but insisted that “Jerusalem is the indivisible capital of Israel.” When Ali was asked about Jerusalem, he replied, “We are negotiating everything. We are not against unity” for the city but Egypt will discuss its final status “with others.”
Burg agreed with Ali that the Israeli government is “very much interested” in having the Palestinian Arabs join the talks as provided for at Camp David.
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.
