Kissinger: No Change Toward PLO

Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger reassured Israeli leaders repeatedly during his brief stay here that there has been no change in the U.S. policy toward the Palestine Liberation Organization. He also conveyed indications that Syria will not oppose renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observation Force (UNDOF) which expires Nov. 30 and that Egypt is amenable to a second stage of talks with Israel on a partial Sinai settlement.

Kissinger, who left Friday afternoon for Tunisia.returned to Washington last night. He was reported today to be briefing President Ford on his latest diplomatic tour of the Middle East.

Israeli leaders had been most apprehensive over recent remarks by President Ford and White House spokesmen intimating that the U.S. may be veering toward some degree of recognition of the PLO which the Arab states designated at the Rabat summit to be the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

Information Minister Aharon Yariv told newsmen Friday that “Dr. Kissinger was very clear in his position that he does accept the Israeli principle that the Israeli government will not negotiate with the PLO.” Asked if the U.S. “stood behind” the Israeli position. Yariv replied. “He definitely did (Indicate this) as Secretary of State. “

KISSINGER SEES POSITIVE RABAT RESULTS

Informed sources here disclosed that Kissinger saw some benefit to Israel from the outcome of the Rabat conference in that designation of the PLO effectively removed pressure on Jerusalem to negotiate a West Bank settlement at this time. Kissinger pointed out that this relieved Israel of major headaches on both the internal and external fronts; that a firm stand by Israel over a long period of time will result in a softening of the PLO’s dogmas and positions; and that King Hussein of Jordan may. in the interval, reassert his role as a negotiating partner on grounds that placing the PLO in that role only worsened the impasse.

Israeli observers were apparently encouraged by the news from Damascus that President Hafez Assad probably would not try to block renewal of the UNDOF mandate. Kissinger told Israeli leaders that he had found a “less bellicose” atmosphere in Damascus. But Assad had stressed that he would engage in no more separate negotiations with Israel and that any further talks must include the PLO, Kissinger reportedly said.

Kissinger reportedly told Israeli leaders that he had found King Hussein and his advisors in a bleak mood when he visited Amman Friday. He said they blamed Israel and the U.S. for missing an opportunity to negotiate a partial West Bank settlement with Jordan last summer.