FBIS Coverage of the Middle East Peace Talks- 1978 September

V. 19 Sep 78 : 20 ISRAE-
APPROVED'FOR RELEASE CIA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS DIVISION AR 70-14 13NOV201
LAnswerj The peace agreement that is to come after the 5 years stands on its own.
That is to say, we have two things: one is the determination of another regime in
Judaea and Samaria--a regime based on the abolition of the military government and every-
thing else involved. This does not have to cease after 5 years. But the agreement also
talks about a peace treaty and this is not to be drawn up with the Arabs of the territories.
It does not depend, therefore, on the abolition of the military government. 'A peace
treaty exists only between states and we do not want to view the Arabs of the territories
as another country. .Therefore, the peace tMeaty should be drawnupbetweenus and Jordan.
So here we have an overlap in.the timetable. As for.the settlement referring to the
autonomy: stage A refers to 5 years, and at the same time it is agreed that after 5
years peace will be signed with Jordan. But let us say. that Jordan does not agree to
sign a peace agreement with us after 5 years. This does not mean that the settlement
regarding the Arabs of the territories, will not remain valid.
[Question] To conclude, could you tell us, Mr Dayan, what your personal feeling is as
a person who for -many years has been invol7ved in negotiations with the Arabs--after
the signing of the agreement tonight?
[Answer] Are you asking a personal question or a public one? If it is a personal
question it is a little. uncomfortable. It is easier to answer from a public point of
view--that is-, my feeling as the person involved and so forth. Well, there is no
doubt that this proposal for an agreement is a pinnacle compared to all the interim
agreements and we have exhausted the whole dictionary--a cease-fire, armistice .separation -
of forces, limitation of forces and so forth--but I want to say something to the heart
of the matter if we have another couple of minutes.
Throughout the whole of the past year when for the first time we talked about a real
peace agreement it was my position--and I stated it publicly--that we. must fully. clarify
under what conditions we can achieve a real peace with the Arabs, and in this case with
Egypt. Not a declaration of principles and not [word indistinct] but to really know
what will happen to the settlements and what will happen in Judaea and Samaria and so
forth. If and when we learned this, and this is one of the big successes--perhaps not
ours but of U.S. President Carter--here we are talking about a total .normalization of
relations including diplomatic relations and so forth. [sentence as heard] Whenwe know .
what is being proposed to us and the quid pro quo, so that we can say this is the peace
that we are being offered and this is what we have to pa'y,-then we have to decide
whether we are prepared or not. This time I. am very pleased that the .decision on this
matter will be in the hands of the people. We do not have the practice of holding
referendums. .- Therefore, it will be in the hands of the Knesset. '.I am very pleased
about this even in its own right. I can see the whole of the. house of Israel sitting and
discussing this during the next 2 weeks. Those who sit on their balconies on the Sabbath
and gossip and so forth--everyone, with his family and children will ask himself whether
we should do this or- not. This time the people in Israel will have to think about this
as will the parties and the newspapers and the people and their families. Is it worthwhile
or not? Should we pay the price or not? This is one of the difficult decisions but one
of the real tests. Compared to all the things that we deal with during the year this is
one of the most basic questions and:it is a good thing that it is being thrown to the
people. You will thirk and I will think and in the end we will have to decide. This is
what is being offered us this year, within the next 3 months, and this is the price.
Are we ready or not?
[Question] What is your assessment? Will they accept it? - -
[Answer] I do not know. [end videctape-