FBIS Coverage of the Middle East Peace Talks- 1978 September

PPROVEY3 F NE ASE CIA HISTORICAL C L CTIONS DIVISION AR 70-14 13N_
[Nissan] Is there no fear that this might be otherwise interpreted: you signed an
agreement, reached an agreement, yet you are refraining from taking a position?
[Begin) I signed an agreement and I will recommend that it. be accepted. We had two
argumer.ts: I wanted to convene the Knesset for a special session this coming Monday,
during which I will fully report--including the documents and the relevant letters,
everything--and will ask that the agreements be approved. Later, I wanted to convene
-nother special Knesset session to decide only about the settlements. I-might participate
nr-that second session, but I may remain silent. However, I would like to be. left to
n e the'decision, bacause I must still think about it.
(Shilon] Mr Prime Minister, still, with respect to the internal political issue: Wha t
does this day symbolize to you as a politician--all of a sudden a.movement like the Peace
iow Movement is applauding you and several colleagues who certainly are dear to you,
from your own movement, are criticizing you?
[Begin] First of all, I am not impressed by the miracles of;the Peace Now. Second, I
kcnew that I would have an argument with several friends of mine. I said so at the
-nesset immediately following President as-Sadat's visit to Jerusalem. Sometimes, as
the French philosophically say, it is a case of c'est la vie--you have to decide, even if
you are in disagreement with your best friends, make a decision! I am convinced and
believe with all my heart and soul that the way we have taken is the right. one. I also
said several weeks ago that according to our whole experience, this is the only way that
might lead to peace. There is no other. Since we have now taken a very serious step
toward peace, my conscience is clear and I shall face my friends. If I get several stones
t:rown at me, I am used to that too. I shall probably stay alive and continue along this
path. Perhaps there are also various disagreements. I have heard various commentators
on U.S. television and they gave erroneous, not exact, information. Things will straighten
out, of course, during the day; here during this interview, too, and mainly through the-
Knesset debate, because I will present to the Knesset all the documents, every.phrase,
every coma will be brought before the Knesset. It appears that the commas, too, have
significance over which we sometimes argued at Camp David.
[Shilon] How will you face Gush Emunim, for example, whitch is bound to request more
settlements,'which you have promised? You said--the day you entered.office; or the day
you were elected--there would be many more Allon More's?
[Begin] I have said there would be, and there are, many Allon More's. What have we
comitted ourselves to? We have a period, I said--.true--we will refrain from settling--
by the way, not in all the places, but in .certain places. As I told President Carter,
we will also take into account the possibility of establishing'Nahalfootholds. There
is nothing like what is called a total freezing of the settlements, and all of this is-.
out in the open, this is what I told the U.S. President. However; basically, I am
nrepared to adrit that during thin period of the negotiations, I think it wise specifi-
c ally durin;;--how long is it--90 days not to establish settlements, it is possible- to
wait for 3 months. The Israeli nation 'has waited for peace for a much longer period.
That, I think, was done wisely and I have no regrets about it and I will argue with each
one of the lovers of Eretz Yisrarel, among which I am numbered.