Israeli plan offers withdrawal

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33426, 7 January 1974, Page 11

Israeli plan offers withdrawal

i.X.Z. Press Association—Copyright * TEL AVIV. January 6. Fhe Israeli Minister of Defence (General Moshe Dayan > has formulated a plan for withdrawal from the Suez Canal which calls for Egypt to agree to a state of non-belligerence in place of the present cease-fire. The Egyptians also would have to reduce the amount of heavy armour they have east of the Suez Canal, and promise not to station aircraft near the canal, the Pel Aviv newspaper “Yedioth Aharonoth" reported.

Israel also wanted Egypt to limit the number of anti-aircraft missiles in the canal area, the newspaper said. In exchange, the plan calls for Israeli forces to withdraw in three stages, being replaced by the United Nations Emeraencv Force

ixauons r-niergency rorce after each step. First, the Israelis would pull back from the Cairo-! Suez Road to their October j 22 lines, freeing Egypt’s’ Third Army from encircle-! iment. The second step would be; (withdrawal from the Israeli j salient west of the canal. I except for a bridgehead, i In the third stage, the Israelis would pull back 20 ’miles east of the canal to the Mittla and Giddi passes in the mountains of Sinai. United Nations troops would occupy a strip 12 miles deep west of the Israeli lines, and Egyptian forces would occupy a six-mile strip between the United Nations’ force and the canal. Israeli reasons Israeli’s reported willingness to pull back from the canal was explained today as follows in Israeli political circles: First, Egypt could easily send more troops across the canal than permitted under a disengagement agreement, but such a violation could easily be detected. It would ! show that Egypt did not want peace. Second, Egyptian bad faith (would end Israel’s obligation to make additional concessions. Third, if Egypt launched an offensive, the presence of United Nations soldiers between the lines would give time to strengthen Israeli lines in the Sinai mountains.! General Dayan said last! night that his talks in Washington yesterday and the day before with the United States Secretary of State (Dr Henry ! Kissinger) clarified the Israeli and United States attitudes’ ’on principles and ways of dis-!

engagement. The Israeli Government would now decide what to do, he said after flying home. There xvere differences of i opinion over details between Tel Aviv and Washington, but the two governments; saw things the same wav in ’ general. “It would be wrong to believe that Dr Kissinger was : the advocate of Egyptian! theses.” General Dayan said’ at Lod airport. “It would be just as wrong to believe that the fact we, reached mutual understand-! ing with the Americans signi-! tied that the same under-! standing xvould result with; the Egyptians, too, from now! on.” lime to prepare Well-informed sources said! Israel wanted a few weeks to i prepare the withdrawal in ’ ' order to have time to; strengthen the resulting j military positions. There was no immediate ’ Egyptian reaction reported,! [but the extent of the pro-’ ’nosed xvithdrawal might not’ ’be sufficient to ensure acceptance of the plan. Before the plan was re-; vealed late this evening,’ ; Cairo newspapers had been I ’firm in insisting on full'

Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai. An indication of Egyptian thinking on disengagement was provided by the Cairo newspaper “Al Gomhouria,” which said Egypt would not accept preliminary Israeli withdrawal unless it was coupled with a pledge to quit the Sinai Peninsula according to a fixed timetable.

Prior commitment I The authorative newspaper, “Al Ahram” said the ■ military committee in Geneva ; had achieved some progress ion separation, of Israeli and Egyptian forces, but added .■that the practical implemen- i tation of disengagement must be a part of political decision. This was thought to ! emphasise again that no disengagement of forces would take place unless Israel gave a prior commitment to withdraw from all the Egyptian territory. Palestinian rights In Cairo, the Egyptian Foreign Minister (Mr Ismail ’Fahmy) will meet a delegation from the Palestine resistance movement today to' brief them on the progressof the Geneva talks, and Egypt’s stand on Palestine. Egypt announced at the Geneva peace conference last month that a final settlement of the Middle East crisis should include Israel’s withdrawal from all the occupied Arab territories, and the restoration of the legitimate' rights of the Palestinian people. It has also demanded the participation of Palestinian representatives in the conference. The Foreign Minister is. also due to meet Arab ambassadors in Cairo tomorrow : to inform them of developments both on the Suez; Canal front and at the Geneva talks. The daily cease-fire viola-, j.tions remain the leading’ ’front page news in Egyptian newspapers today. More violalions United Nations observers ; reported yesterday a twohour exchange of artillery,

tank and mortar fire in the Suez area on Friday. Two artillery shells (tree by Egyptians fell within titty yards of the Finnish battalior headquarters, and anothei shell fell within 15 vards ol it. The Israelis lodged 27 com plaints on Friday of Egyptiai violations, including claim: of troop advancements frorr the cease-fire nositions ar th.

me cease-nre positions at the Suez Cana! front. The Egyptians lodged seven complaints.