Sadat offers truce to reopen canal

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32629, 10 June 1971, Page 11

Sadat offers truce to reopen canal

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

CAIRO, June 9.

President Anwar Sadat told Egyptian troops along the Suez Canal front yesterday that Egypt was ready to accept a six-month cease-fire to facilitate the reopening of die canal.

The President, who spent two days with the troops, said that the Israelis should withdraw partially during this period.

Once this happened, Egypt would be ready to extend the cease-fire for another and final period of six months by which time the Israelis should withdraw completely, he said. If the Israelis did not withdraw by then, Egyptian troops would have the right to complete the liberation of the occupied territories, President Sadat declared. Crossing of canal He said that Egyptian troops should cross the waterway as part of any interim agreement to reopen the canal.

Egypt was not ready under any circumstances to lease or bargain over any inch of its territories, he added. Egypt's borders were the international borders with Palestine. The President said that he told the United States Secretary of State (Mr William Rogers) of these conditions when he visited Egypt last month. These conditions were not a subject for bargaining, he said.

The President’s speech at one of the Egyptian positions along the 100-mile front was reported by the Middle East News Agency. Mr Rogers visited Cairo last month for talks mainly concerned with the possibilities of reopening the canal, which has been closed since the June, 1967, war. Israel’s call Israel has called for an indefinite cease-fire, no crossing of the canal by Egyptian troops and no commitments for further withdrawals. There have been also state- ' ments that Israel would re- ; tain some parts of the Sinai Peninsula, particularly the strategic position of Sharrn el-Sheikh at the southern end of Sinai. President Sadat said that iif Israel were really interested in peace, it must carry out the first stage of partial withdrawal. The United Nations Middle East envoy, Dr Gunnar Jarr-

ing, should resume his mission in implementing the Security Council resolution of 1967. If Israel were after "land and strategic positions, then this means war,” President Sadat said. He added: “I do not care about Israel, I am interested in the American attitude.” U.S. reply sought He said that Egypt was still waiting for the American reply. If it were supporting Israel in occupying the Egyptian territories “then I will treat her as a partner of Israel.”

Mr Sadat said that if the Israelis attempted to strike deep into Egypt "we will strike deep in Israel.” “If they use napalm, we will use napaim, which they have tasted before in Sinai,” he said.

The President reiterated that the chances for a peaceful solution did not exceed 1 per cent “but this hope makes me wait without giving you the order (to strike).” The United States has asked for a chance to reply to the Egyptian offer. "If this chance did not materialise, we will go into battle,” the President said. Egyptians must be ready to sacrifice. “We must be ready to sacrifice a million martyrs but not to retreat or hesitate.” In Paris, American officials said that the United States hoped an interim agreement

could be worked out for reopening the Suez Canal this year. Mr Rogers had been encouraged by some of the clarifications brought from Cairo by Mr Donald Bergus, the senior American diplomatic envoy there, the officials said. They listed these factors

1. A strong public desire in all Middle Eastern countries for continuation of the cease-fire and a peaceful settlement. 2. Belief by public officials in the Middle East that peace is to be sought. 3. Conditions are more stable in the Middle East today than they have been for a long time. The ceasefire is now 10 months old.

4. The Arab governments are in a stronger position now to work out an interim settlement. 5. Agreement on the part of President Sadat, that, granted certain conditions, he is prepared to enter into a peace agreement with Israel. 6. Awareness of recognition by Israel and Egypt that an interim agreement is feasible and would be a useful step in the direction of a final peace agreement based on the United Nations Security Council’s resolution of November, 1967.