Peaceful solution dismissed by Sadat

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32880, 1 April 1972, Page 17

Peaceful solution dismissed by Sadat

(N.ZP.A.’Reuler—Copyright) CAIRO, March 31. President Anwar Sadat has dismissed the possibility of a peaceful solution to the Middle East crisis and said that he would report on the whole situation in an address to the People’s Council there next week.

Cairo Radio quoted, the President as saying, l during a visit to an Egyptian air base last night, that a decision to fight Israel had already been taken.

“Moves surround us from every direction, but this does not mean we should sit back and watch,” President Sadat declared. The President also denounced King Hussein’s plan to unite the two banks of the River Jordan when he spoke at a two-hour question and answer session with officers at the base. In his first comment on the Jordanian ruler’s proposal—announced on March 15— President Sadat said that the plan was “an American move to liquidate the Palestine question.” When the Palestine question had been done away with, the President said, the Arab-Israeli conflict would; then become a question of borders.

“Further American schemes for the area will! surface in the future,” he! said. The Egyptian leader said; that King Hussein’s plan was a surprise, but he recalled !that he had given a warning against United States moves in the Middle East. “One year ago, during talks in Benghazi on the creation of the Federation of

Arab Republics (comprising Egypt, Syria and Libya), and at the meetings of the Arab Socialist Union, I told them America was piling arms in Israel and Jordan ... it had designs in the area.” Washington plans — pressure on Cyprus and the establishment of a naval base in Piraeus — were directed against Egypt and Syria, President Sadat said. Egypt’s leading political commentator, Mohammed Heykal, said today that words alone would not settle the Middle East crisis and armed forces would inevitably have a role in Arab confrontation with Israel. In his weekly Friday article in the “Al Ahram” newspaper, which he edits, Heykal said: “The successful use of force depends on our knowledge of the conditions under which force is to be used in our age.” Heykal said that Israel “must be kept hot at all times and must never be allowed to freeze.” He called on Arabs to impose on Israel a price in blood, which she could not afford to pay, for every day she remained on Arab soil.