Israel’s chief opposition party, Gahal, demanded today that the government categorically reject what it called an “ultimatum” by Egypt to withdraw Israeli forces from the east bank of the Suez Canal within the next 30 days. That was the interpretation Gahal put on Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s proposal to reopen the Suez Canal if Israel pulled back its troops from the waterway. Gahal indicated that it would lead the debate on the matter at tomorrow’s Knesset session where Premier Golda Meir is scheduled to deliver a political report. The Gahal executive committee declared that the government must stand fast on its policy not to budge an inch from the present cease fire lines until a permanent peace agreement is achieved with the Arabs, Gahal claimed that Sadat was using the threat of renewed warfare in 30 days to force Israel back from the Canal. “Israel’s supreme interest, its security and welfare obliges it not to leave the slightest measure of doubt in anyone’s mind that the Egyptian ultimatum has been utterly rejected,” a Gahal statement said.
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