FBIS Coverage of the Middle East Peace Talks- 1978 September

V. 19 Sep 78
PPROVED FOR RELEASE CIA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS DIVISION AR 70-14 13NOVii
It appears to me that this is the main list of the things which represent concessions onour part, agreement on our part to things we have not previously agreed to, before leavingfor Camp David.
[Ram] What reactions do you expect in your party, in the Herut; in view of the concessions,or the changes, in the peace program? -
[Arens] Yes. That is hard to say at this stage. We have to see all the details., Apparentlya great many things are not yet clear. I would say--on the main issue,'to which I attachno inconsiderable weight--that, at this stage, it is not at all clear, whether Egypt's
willingness to sign an agreement in accordance with that timetable mentioned at Camp David,a peace agreement with us, is this an irrevocable commitment? [sentence as heard] Or, is itdependent on the 'fact that the Jordanians come; that we agree to make additional concessions,
is it dependent on negotiations which are to be held over Judaea and Samaria, with the
Palestinians, is this an irrevocable commitment which-will lead Egypt and Israel to a peaceagreement even if no agreement is achieved on the issue of Judaea and Samaria? This isnot clear and it appears to me that it will determine the position or many people.
[Ram] Mr Rabin, do you expect a new political deployment in Israel?
[Rabin] It is still too soon to evaluate. I have no doubt that in several significant
things, Israel, the Cabinet of Israel, has made concessions when compared to the [Likud]
peace program. When the reference. is to Sinai, in fact., all the Egyptian demands have
been accepted, apart from the question of the settlements, which, I have no doubt will
stand as a painful and difficult problem facing everyone in Israel, facing all the parties
in Israel, facing everyone of the Knesset members who will have to vote on it when the matter
is put to the Knesset.
[Arens] The speed of the withdrawal fromSinai is also faster than in the original program.
[Rabin] Yes, these are secondary things...
[-Ram] Two or 3 years...
[Rabin] Secondary things. The main problem is that of the settlements in Sinai.
The second question, as I said before, is what, in fact, is Israel committing itself to
today--in the framework agreement on which Egypt makes its signing of a peace agreement
with Israel dependent--with all the details, the main ones-.of which. are connected with
the future of the territories, the fate--of Jerusalem, the-fate of the settlements and
the security arrangements.' I have no doubt that Egypt will not: make peace with Israel before
.a framework agreement is also achieved, not. a declaration of principles, but a framework
agreement which will contain clear words, or, at least, there must be clear words in it;
and the questions to-which I have as yet no answer ar.e what Israel is taking on itself-
with regard to the fate of Jerusalem, with regard to the. problem 'of the sovereignty and
the borders, with regard to the fate of the settlements in the Jordan rift valley, the
Jerusalem area and Gush rEzyor).
[Ram] Professor Arens, we heard that the Egyptian foreign minister, Ibrahim Kamil, has
- resigned in reaction .to this agreement. Is it possible that there may be changes in the
Cabinet of Israel, on the part of ministers, let us assume; on whose flag settlement is
engraved, the need for settlement?