FBIS Coverage of the Middle East Peace Talks: 1977 December

PPROVED FOR RELEASE CIA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS DIVISION AR 70-14 13NO\/201
V. 29 Dec 77 N 17 ISRAEL
[MK Hillel, Alinement, interrupting] Sir, Prime Minister, I understand that the Egyptian
president preferred a total Israeli withdrawal rather than a territorial compromise in
Sinai. Is this true?
[Begin] I have already spoken about this, that there are equal negotiations between two
equal parties.. .There are no diktats and no threats. Nobody will threaten the Israeli
delegation, either in Cairo or in Jerusalem, and we will discuss the proposals. They,
too, will discuss the proposals, and I hope that we will reach a settlement. If the
other party presents impossible demands, demands which it knows to be impossible for us,
they will not be accepted. Calmly and quietly we will say: We do not accept your
proposals. This is the nature of free negotiations. This is how things have always
proceeded in every debate over a peace treaty. Finally an agreement is .reached. Some-
times it takes a long time. Sometimes there are even breaks in the negotiations, and
the parties meet again until agreement is reached and a peace treaty is signed.
[MK Yadlin, Alinement] Mr Prime Minister, will this be your position also in regard to
the Golan Heights? Will you also oppose a territorial compromise there?
[Begin) Mr former Education Minister, today we are not speaking about the Golan Heights,
and As-Sadat does not propose to speak about our northern border. Al-Asad does not want
to conduct negotiations with us. There are no negotiations about the Golan Heights.
When he comes to hold negotiations with us, we will determine our position. You will
know about it and will be able to react to it. Today, there are no talks about the
Golan Heights as long as the Syrian leader does not come for negotiations, and this is
with the agreement of the Egyptian president.
Mr Chairman, the debate, which has lasted for about 11 hours has ended....
[MK Yizhaq Yizhaqi interrupts] Mr Prime Minister, will there be a public referendum?
Will there be a public referendum finally, at the moment of decision?
[Begin] My friend Mr Yizhaqi, our law does not have this term referendum. Those who
want to propose it should propose it. For this a law should be passed. If a majority
favors a public referendum, I will surely accept the Knesset law. I heard that it was
proposed that new elections be held. I am ready. However, all these things--a public - )referendum, elections--do not bother us. The people can always have their say. The
practical matter [of peace] is in the focus of our attention. We have embarked on the
road of direct negotiations. There is great moral support in the free world for this.
We will follow this road and, God willing, we will succeed and bring peace. Mr Chairman,
the debate has ended. I now ask that the voting begin, and I asking each Knesset mem-
ber, regardless of faction, to vote according to his conscience. There is no imposition
or compulsion. Each should vote according to his conscience. I am sure of the result.
Knesset Approves Plan
TA282023Y Jerusalem Domestic Service in Hebrew 2000 GMT 28 Dec 77 TA
[Text] By a majority of 64 to 8, the Knesset took note of the prime ministerts remarks
in the debate about the peace plan after an 11-hour debate. Forty Knesset members
abstained.