Israeli and Egyptian negotiators agreed here tonight under the prodding of President Carter’s special Mideast envoy, Robert Strauss, to set up a number of “working groups” which will focus an the various aspects of the autonomy negotiations. In this way, the autonomy talks have circumvented the difference in approaches between Israel and Egypt which had been holding up progress until now.
Late tonight, the three teams met over dinner to discuss the precise number of “working groups” that will be created and their precise designation. Agreement was reached earlier on the names and nature of the first two groups: one will deal with the “modalities” of the self-governing council and the other with its “powers and responsibilities.” (Both terms are in the Camp David framework and in the Sadat-Begin March 26 joint letter.)
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