Vance says P.L.O. must accept Israel to join peace talks

Press, 18 February 1977, Page 5

Vance says P.L.O. must accept Israel to join peace talks

International

NZPA-Reuter Jerusalem The United States Secretary of State (Mr Cyrus Vance) said yesterday that the Palestine Liberation Organisation must recognise Israel’s right to exist in order to qualify for a place at the Geneva conference on a peaceful Middle East settlement.

Addressing a press conference after talks with Israeli leaders, Mr Vance confirmed that the United States was in favour of the resumption of talks in Geneva in the second half of this year, but told a questioner that it might be useful to hold a preliminary conference before then. Egypt, the next stop on his six-nation tour, wants the P.L.O. to attend as a separate delegation—a view shared by other Arab States. Israel refuses to attend any talks if the P.L.O. is present, on the ground that the organisation’s charter states that its aim is the violent overthrow of the Jewish State. The Israeli Foreign Minister (Mr Yigal Alien), speaking at the same press conference, made a stinging attack on the Soviet Union for trying to dictate the results of any Geneva peace conference. His remarks were in marked contrast to Mr Vance’s comments over the

last few days welcoming Soviet interest in regional peace efforts.

Even though the Soviet Union would be co-chairman of the conference, “I cannot see how the Soviet Union is going to help,” Mr Alton said. “They have made clear already the preconditions of the conference.” The Associated Press quoted Mr Allon as saying that Israel would talk to authentic leaders of the Palestinian Arab community chosen by King Hussein of Jordan. The Palestinians would sit at Jordan’s table at the talks, he said. Although Mr Allon said that P.L.O. officials could not be recognised by Israel as parties to negotiations, it was up to King Hussein to choose his delegation and there could be no boycott of people. Mr Allon mentioned several possibilities for renewing the Geneva talks, including holding preliminary

meetings with the Arabs on procedural matters. Israel would insist, he said, on meeting each Arab delegation separately once the full peace conference began. “You can’t negotiate with a choir,” he said. In earlier statements, both Mr Vance and the Israeli Prime Minister (Mr Rabin) said the secretary’s heavy schedule of talks had concentrated on the nature of peace, Israeli withdrawal from occupied Arab land, and the Palestinian question. There appeared to be no new breakthroughs on Israel’s request for concussion bombs, which the Israeli Defence Minister (Mr Shimon Peres) said Israel needed to knock out Arab missile sites in case of war. The high-powered weapon, so far unsold outside the United States, was promised by the then President, Mr Gerald Ford last October, but Israel is still waiting for confirmation of the sale from the Carter Administration.