FBIS Coverage of the Middle East Peace Talks- 1978 September

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PPRQVED IIE AIBEASE CIA HISTORICAL COLI-E TIONS DIVISION AR 70-14 13 M201
[Arens] It is very hard to say. First of all, the main minister connected with the.issue
of the negotiations--the defense minister and the foreign minister--were in Camp David and
they are partners in the negotiations and they are also pleased with the results.. Con-
cerning the rest, I am sure that everyone will certainly say that he wants to.see the
details, wants to see all the things agreed on and not agreed on, before he expresses his
view. - -
-Ran] Gentlemen, a last question. Peace is talked of. We hear the-bells of peace. What
is the meaning of peace in the Middle East, in the State-of Israel, after 31 years?
[Arens] I think that, first of all, it is worth emphasizing the decisive question as far
as we are concerned, which is: Is the reference to stable peace, what we call real peace,
when we will no longer have to, face security dangers, or is the reference to another stage
in the moderation of the dispute, when we will still have to be on-our guard? It appears
to me that we mean the second one, even with all the hopes which are linked with that
agreement which has just been signed. Syria, Iraq, the easter front,. the problems in
Lebanon today, it appears to me that we have not yet reached that point where we can begin
to speak about the disbanding of the IDF and of the. end of the need to be on guard,
But, without any doubt, if this agreement brings at least a separate agreement with Egypt
for a moderation of the tension on the southern front, enables us to decrease the forces
we send to that area, this will be a great relief for Israel and Egypt, economically,
a great step toward the fulfilling of some of our dreams in the area. -
[Rabin] Even if peace is achieved, this will not yet be by way of being the actualization
of the ancient vision of the prophets of Israel, since the reference.is to peace with a
section of the Arab world, peace to which time must be given to examine to what extent .
the two, or the three nations, will come closer., those with whom there is at the moment a
chance of reaching peace; to what extent this rapprochement will lead to an erosion in
the warlike motivation of the whole Arab world and will-really create friendly relations.
But there is no doubt that there is in this an opening, an opening for a change in national
preferences, not in the first stage, and: many difficult problems will arise, problems
connected with what is our unity, what is our place in the Jewish world, what will the
Jewish people's link be to the State of Israel when it is at peace; how will this influence
aliya, how will this influence lifestyles in Israel, how will this find its expression in
the new reality we have not yet experienced? There are many questions, few answers.
[Arens] I would maybe add two questions. It appears to me that-these are questions which
each of us will have.to cope with in the coming weeks and months. The first question is;
What is the degree of risk we are taking on ourselves? :What, is. the degree of risk when we
leave the. airfields in Sinai? When we will, maybe,Afor all. that, have to again face the..
need to defend ourselves, and. this. time without those bases.,. and of course there are other
security assets we have conceded. -
The second question is: To what extent will the agreement, if it is signed, restrict the
project of Zionism. Are we entering into a stage in which the project of Zionism will
slow down; will it be seriously restricted; to certain areas of Eretz Yisra'el, or will
we be able to continue .with the omentum and -the impetus of the project-of Zionism?
[Ran] Gentlemen, I thank you very :auch. We are returning to the -news studio in Jerusalem.