Documents / FOIA release
This is a Central Intelligence Agency release of Foreign Broadcast Information Service coverage of the Middle East peace talks from December 1977. It collects British, Israeli and Soviet press and radio items on President as-Sadat's initiative and the planned Cairo conference. It also covers Prime Minister Begin's visit to London, Secretary of State Vance's regional tour and the Knesset debate on the peace plan. It contains no material on unidentified aerial phenomena.
“Cairo”42 pages
PPRO D FOR RELEASE HISTORI L COLLECTIONS DIVISION A 0-14 13NOV201 VII. 2 Dec 77 $ U N I T E D K I N G D 0 M Q l ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARRIVES 2 DEC, MET BY OWEN ID021256Y London PRESS ASSOCIATD&N in English 1210 GM2 D 77 ID [Text ] Israe prime minister Mr Menahem Begin lew into London today amid tight security for the rst official visit to Bri ain by'anlraeli leader. He was met at Heathrow Air- port by Foreign Secretary, Dr David Owen. Mr Begin--the former terrorist leader who fought the British during. the Palestine troubles-- said after arriving: "I bring from Jerusalem a suggestion to renew the covenant signed between the British and Jewish people 60 years ago on that unforgettable day, November 2, 1917." The Balfour Declaration expressed Britaints support for the setting up of a Jewish state in Palestine. Mr Begin also said he hoped to tell Mr Callaghan about the "dramatic events" during President as-Sadat t s recent visit to Jerusalem. He said he was "gratified" to Mr Callaghan for his invitation to visit Britain--the first time an Israeli leader has been asked to visit the country. Special Branch and Israeli security men mingled with officials and pressmen during Mr Begin's arrival. The Israeli leader was greeted by 50 flag-waving children from the Israeli embassy and was presented with a boquet of flowers by two of them--obed Hacohen, 11, and Elait Ezer, 10. During his six-day visit he is expected to have about 12 hours of talks with Mr Callaghan and other British ministers. Apart from briefing Mr Callaghan on President as-Sadat's visit he is also expected to discuss the forthcoming Cairo peace talks, the Palestinian question and Israelis relations with the EEC. Dr Owen wished Mr Begin a "happy and enjoyable" stay in Britain. The Israeli leader re- plied that relations between Britain and Israel "are good." Mr Begin, accompanied by his wife, flew in on a scheduled El Al Boeing 707 flight which arrived 20 minutes late. The aircraft taxied to a special VIP area in a corner of the airport for the official welcome. After a short speech Mr Begin flew from Heathrow in a helicopter of the queen's flight to Kensington Palace Gardens before moving on to his first hotel. It is the first time and Israeli prime minister has been officially invited to Britain. For security reasons Mr Begin will be staying at a succession of hotels-for religious reasons each will be 15 minutes walk from a synagogue. His first official engagement will be tomorrow night after the Jewish sabbath ends--when he will meet Mr Callaghan at 10 Downing Street for talks and a reception. Mr Begin is expected back at No 10 on Sunday morning for talks with a number of ministers and for a working lunch. On Monday, he will meet leaders of the Jewish community and on Tuesday will see British MPs with special interests in the Middle East. On Wednesday he will hold a press conference. Mr Begin was to have come to Britain a few weeks ago but the trip was postponed because of the dramatic visit to Israel by President as-Sadat.
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FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 65 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.