FBIS Coverage of the Middle East Peace Talks: 1977 December

PPROVED FOR RELEASE CIA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS DIVISION AR 70-14 13NOV2013
V. 6 Dec 77 N 5 ISRAEL
FUNCTION OF DELEGATION TO CAIRO TALKS DEFINED
TA051643Y Tel Aviv IDF Radio in Hebrew 1510 GMT 5 Dec 77 TA
[From the afternoon newsreel-]
[Text] The Israeli delegation to the Cairo talks does not have the authority or
instructions to hold negotiations about defense or military subjects. This was made
clear today by Foreign Ministry officials. They stressed that the function of the
delegation will, in the first stage, be limited to examining the various clauses
that, in Israel's opinion, should be included in the peace treaty with Arab countries.
Our correspondent Gabi Kessler reports about the definition of the function of the -
Israeli delegation to the Cairo talks: [begin recording].
Foreign Ministry officials said today that Israel does not understand As-Sadat's
criticism of the composition of the Israeli delegation for the Cairo talks. The
composition of the delegation, the sources said, was determined in accordance with the
letter of invitation sent by the Egyptian acting foreign minister which clearly saidthat the Israeli foreign minister is requested to appoint his representatives to the
Cairo talks. If President as-Sadat sends an invitation to more senior personages to
come to Cairo, Israel will answer such an invitation on the spot, and it is assumed that
it will be positive.
In the meantime Foreign Ministry sources stressed again that the delegation is basically
technical. The function of the delegation, in Israel's view, is to work with the
Egyptian delegation in order to clarify the various elements to be included in the
peace treaty and examine their acceptability. Thus the delegation will discuss the
issues of free navigation, goods exchange, cultural and tourist relations, and the nature -
of the diplomatic relations between. Israel and the Arab countries. The delegation does
not have, at this stage, the authority or instructions to discuss military or defense issues.
It is emphasized in the Foreign Ministry that this concerns the first stage of the talks.
If the need arises, the delegation will receive new instructions or, alternatively, more
senior personages will join it who will have the authority to hold negotiations on
defense issues.
As for As-Sadat's statement that Israel has to go to Cairo with softened positions, the
Foreign Ministry sources said that President as-Sadat knows Israel's position about non-
withdrawal to the 1967 lines and rejection of a Palestinian state in Judaea and Samaria.
Israel also knows that Egypt's positions are opposed to the Israeli stands. Nevertheless,
the sources wanted to make it clear that Israel will go to Cairo with positions and
not with answers, namely, without preconditions. It is possible to assume that from the
opposed positions the two parties hope to reach a common path [end recording]
BEGIN URGES AS-SADAT TO BE LOYAL TO DECLARATIONS
TA051309Y Tel Aviv YEDI'OT AHARONOT in Hebrew 5 Dec 77 pp 1, 8 TA
[By Ilan Kefir and Arye Zimmuqi]
[Excerpts] "If the Egyptian president goes back on his declarations in Jerusalem, this
would be a great disappointment to me,".Prime Minister Menahem Begin said yesterday
in a conversation with the YEDI'OT AHARONOT correspondent in London. "I believe that
President as-Sadat and I have found a common language, and this will help us on the
road. to peace." These remarks were made in reaction to remarks yesterday by President
as-Sadat to the effect that "Israel had better soften its positions in the Cairo talks;
otherwise, it will have to bear the consequences."