Rift may threaten M.E. talks

Press, 5 October 1977, Page 8

Rift may threaten M.E. talks

NZPA New York

I Sharp strains developed today between Israel and the United States, jeopardising the efforts of the American Secretary of State (Mr Cyrus Vance) to convene the Geneva peace conference on the Middle East by the end of this year. Mr Vance, yesterday met envoys from ’ two radical, Left-wing Arab States, Iraq and South Yemen, and told them the United States is willing to re-establish diplomatic relations.

Israeli officials, in New York and in Israel, have publicly rejected the new Soviet-American declaration calling for the Geneva conference to resume. “The reason Israel objects to the statement is that it brings the Soviets into the Middle East situation.” said the Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations (Mr Chaim Herzog). “It seems to us so unnecessary, after all the effort that the United States put into getting the Soviets out of the (area.”

Mr Vance, speaking to reporters after his meeting with the Iraqi Foreign Minister (Mr Sadun Hammadi), said, “I regretted to see some of the (Israeli) reaction, because we think’ some of the things in the joint statement were very positive.” Mr Vance said that United States support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinians did not represent a new American policy. Asked about the strain in relations with Israel, the secretary said, “Obviously there is a good deal of concern at this point. I hope this will pass and that these differences will be resolved.”