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.
PPROVED FOR RELEASE CIA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS DIVISION AR 70-14 13NOV201 V. 12 Dec 77 N 7 ISRAEL [Begin] My friend, new or old, there was thinking and we are thinking. [Question] I would like to ask you a question, Mr Secretary of .State, and the prime minister, with your kind permission, both gentlemen. My question is this: I would like to know whether you think that unanimity in the Arab world is a prerequisite for the achievement of progress in Geneva and Cairo and in Jerusalem, and the contrary, whether progress in those places is contingent upon unanimity in the Arab world? And I would like to ask the secretary this question: Is the United States concerned about the deep split in the Arab world because of recent events, and if so, could you please tell us why? - .1 [Vance] We would all like to see unanimity because the sooner unanimity is achieved, the more rapid the progress would be towards peace. That does not mean, however, that progress cannot b.e made even though one has less than unanimity. (?It is obvious) that there has been a split in the Arab world.. However, as time moves forward, I think all of us hope and believe. that there is a possibility that that split can be healed and disappear and that one can find a greater degree of unanimity than there is at the present time. I think that there is a chance for real peace and we must get started on that course. [Question] Mr Secretary, is there complete understanding--and agreement--between Israel and America regarding Israelis standing and attitude in the Cairo conference? [Vance] We do have differences of view with respect to the Cairo conference. We have been meeting the last 2 days to talk about both the substance and details of the Cairo conference, and I look forward to a fruitful conference. [Begin] I concur. - [Question] Is it desirable, from your point of view, and do you think it would be possible for the Cairo conference to produce a set of principles for a comprehensive settlement? [Begin] Yes. I think this is really the purpose of the Cairo conference. Now the delegations both of Egypt and of Israel will deal with the basic principles of the peace treaties to be negotiated, concluded and ultimately signed. And, as you know, under international law there are many chapters and articles, sections and subsections of the peace treaties of very great value to the future of any nation which signs actually very important documents of international standing and value. And this is going to be dis- cussed in Cairo. And again I want to stress, it will be a sample for the peace treaties to be signed with all our neighbors. So the peacemaking process which starts now in Cairo under no circumstances .will be the end.- It will be the beginning of. that process which ultimately must bring about the establishment of permanent peace in the Middle East. [Question indistinct] [Begin] The problem of the Palestinian Arabs will be discussed, debated--we think of it and I am sure that we will find a solution. [Question] Mr Prime Minister, in the absence of other Arab governments at Cairo, would you be inclined to regard President as-Sadat as a person who can reflect their views and indeed discuss issues which apply not only to Egypt but to the other governments with which you wish to make peace at some later stage?
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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.