FBIS Coverage of the Middle East Peace Talks- 1978 September

PPROVED FOR RELEASE CIA H S ORICAL DIVISION AR 70-14 13 0 201
V. 26 Sep 78 N 3 IShAEL '
[Chairman Shamir] Members of Knesset, I ask you, as far as possible, to refrain from
heckling. [more heckling] Members of Knesset, MK Grupper, MK Grupper, you are con-
stantly interrupting. [more heckling]
[Begin] Mr Chairman, members of Knesset.... [heckling] It is possible, it is
also possible; heckling does not disturb me. Gentlemen, I understand that there are
differences of opinion on this matter in all the parties today. Let us each respect
one anothersr views. Afterward you will decide, each in accordance with his conscience.
I am not hiding--I am not hiding--Mr Yigal Kohen, be kind enough to permit me to
finish the sentence, please--each one will decide in accordance with his conscience
in the decisive voting. In the meantime I ask you to allow me to explain: I am not
hiding anything and I already got to this point at the beginning of my speech. Well--
the incorrect report to the effect that the Israeli delegation did not fight for
these settlements at Camp David: Were it possible, were it possible to ask President
Carter, and also one of his main aides, just how the delegation of Israel fought for
these settlements, you yould receive the specific reply, but this is not the main
point. (heckling]. Have you stopped banging on the table, MK Shamir? That table,
in my view, was intended for writing and not for banging. [heckling] I knew that
there were differences of opinion within all the factions. What is this impatience?
I have not forgotten anything, madam. *
Well, I will say what I have to say simply. This is a very painful matter, and not
only will I not hide my pain, I will express it in any language in which I can express
a man's feelings. However, today--however, today, as I know, we are faced with the
following alternative: to accept the decision as the cabinet brings it, via me, to
the Knesset,. or the negotiations on a peace treaty not beginning at all and all the
things which were agreed on at Camp David being completely cancelled. This is the
alternative.. ,[heck1:ng) Sir... [heckling] Professor Rom, when you... [heckling] .
...you will say different things...for the moment I am authorized by the Knesset to
fill this post and be kind enough to listen to me with patience and respect. This
is the alternative: these are the two possibilities; there is no third and I declare
here that, with a heavy and painful heart, but with a clear conscience, I will recommend
choosing the possibility we chose yesterday at the cabinet session, for this is the Iroad leading to peace, this is the supreme national interest, for my friends and
colleagues, the settlers, too. So I am going to p'opo'se to the Knesset for decision
and voting the following proposal, which is agreed by the Cabinet of Israel: The
Knesset authorizes the Camp David agreements which were signed by the prime minister
in the White House on 19 September 1978. If, in the negotiations over the peace
treaty between Egypt and Israel, all the problems are agreed upon which touch on
this treaty,- and the agreement takes the form of a written document, the Knesset
authorizes the cabinet to remove the settlers from Sinai and to resettle them. The
basic... [heckling] ...you will vote--we are proposing. [heckling]
[Chairman Shamir) MK Shelomo Hillel, Mr Deputy Prime Minister, we are holding a
debate and the debate is for the expression of the views of the factions and the
views of the members of the Knesset. I ask you to permit a quiet and orderly Knesset
session speech. I ask the prime minister to continue with his remarks.
[Begin] I thank the chairman. The basic agreement, the framework agreement regard-
ing Judaea, Samaria and Gaza, is our autonomy program as we proposed it last December.
It is, indeed, true that these are our proposals. The military government, including
its civilian administration, will be removed. The Arab inhabitants will themselves
elect an administrative council. We will not intervene in the administration of their
daily affairs. From the aspect of our national security, the main point of all is the
presence of the IDF in Judaea, Samaria and Gaza. [heckling] Listen to the end,
listen with patience. In -the original agreement, we wrote as follows: There will be
a withdrawal, and in English, a withdrawal, of Israeli armed forces and there will be
a redeployment of the remaining Israeli forces into security zones which will be
detailed. In other words: we agreed to remove a certain number of our troops, while