Determined stand by Egypt reported

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33422, 2 January 1974, Page 13

Determined stand by Egypt reported

<N.Z.F.A.-Keut»r—Copyright)

CAIRO, January 1.

Egypt will return with Israel to the conference table in Geneva tomorrow determined that the Israelis must take the first steps towards the disengagement of forces from the Suez Canal area, according to diplomatic sources in Cairo. They say that the Egyptians will not agree to any withdrawal or to any thinning out of their forces now in the Sinai Peninsula—that is, on the occupied east bank of the canal—in return for an Israeli withdrawal from the west bank, as has been suggested by Israel. Cairo maintains that the Israelis must make the initial withdrawal, because all the territory they occupy is Egyptian.

The Geneva talks, between senior Egyptian and Israeli military officers, were adjourned on Friday, because of the General Election in Israel.

General Ensio Siilasvuo, the United Nations chairman 1 of the military group at the , conference, is having talks today with the Egyptian Minister for War (Major-[ ! General Ahmed Ismail), and ! i[with the Egyptian Chief of [Staff (Major-General Moham-

imed Gamassy) before flying [on to Tel Aviv in ttje hope [of meeting the Israeli Minister of Defence (General i Moshe Dayan).

The Cairo newspaper, “Al Ahram,” reports that agreement has already been reached on five principles for disengaging the forces interlocked on the front, including that what is meant by separation of forces is the withdrawal of Israeli forces to some point on the east bank; that the distance between the two sides should be about 19 miles; and that the canal should be out of range of Israeli artillery. At present, the Israelis hold a salient on the western bank with about 20,000 soldiers. The Egyptians maintain that the Israelis in this area are encircled by Egyptian troops both east and west of the canal, and the military correspondent of “Al Ahram” says that the Egyptians have managed to build a wall of surface-to-air missiles around the Israeli bulge, to deprive it of an air 1 umbrella. Syria adamant Syria’s refusal to attend the Geneva conference in the present circumstances remains unchanged, according to official sources in Damascus, who have denied foreign press reports that Syria bad decided to end her boycott, and would send delegates. The Syrian Government boycotted the opening of the conference on December 21, saying that it saw no useful purpose in attending, but it did not rule out completely participation at a later date. The Damascus sources said today: “Syria’s declared stand is quite clear. Any plan for peace in the region must be based on two main points: Israel’s full withdrawal from occupied Arab territories; and recognition of the national, legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. “Unless these two conditions are met, Syria’s participation in the conference is totally excluded.” Arabs warned It is reported from Tel Aviv that the Israeli Army has warned Arab leaders on the West Bank of the River Jordan against going to the Palestinian nationalist conference in Beirut late in. Those who went would be barred from returning to their homes, an Israeli military spokesman, Major Raphale Horowitz, said yesterday, adding that the conference was viewed by the Israeli authorities as “an undertaking of Palestinian terrorists.” The conference has been called to discuss possible Palestinian participation in the Geneva peace conference, and it has created widespread interest in the Israelioccupied territory of Jordan. Among those thought likely to go is the former Mayor of Nablus, Mr Hamdi Canan, who has told the newspaper, “Maariv,” that he has not been invited. Mr Canan refused to comment on the Israeli warning against going to Beirut.