Deep divisions in Cabinet

Press, 14 June 1978, Page 8

Deep divisions in Cabinet

NZPA-Reuter Jerusalem

The Israeli Cabinet has deferred once more its decision on how to frame a reply to two crucial American questions about the future road to Middle East peace. Contrary to expectations, Ministers finished a fivehour meeting on Monday without reaching agreement on their answers. The United States is keenly awaiting the Israeli response in hopes it may make possible a resumption of peace negotiations between Israel and Egypt. The first question concerns Israel’s view of the future status of the West

Bank and Gaza after the five-year period of limited self-rule proposed by the Israeli Prime Minister (Mr Menachem Begin). The second question invites Israel to suggest how the Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza should be allowed to express views on their own future.

These apparently simple questions provoked deep heart-searchings among Israeli leaders.

Mr Begin and many of his supporters are known to be reluctant to make any commitment that might lead to future Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza. This is partly because of

security considerations and partly because of a conviction, known to be shared bv Mr Begin, that the West Bank and Gaza are part of the God-given land of Israel. Many of Mr Begin’s supporters believe that even his limited self-rule plan is far too radical.

Ranged against this line of thought are Ministers who believe that at least a partial withdrawal from Arab land captured in the 1967 war is worth the risk if it can bring peace. The sources said much of the session was given over to the views of three Cabinet members, the Defence Minister (Mr Ezer Weizman), the Foreign Minister

(Mr Moshe Dyan) and the Minister - without ■ portfolio (Mr Haim Landau).

Mr Weizman was believed to have argued in favour of moves to bring Egypt back into the peace process, but the sources did not specify his ideas.

Mr Dayan has been widely reported to be seeking to adopt proposals which would bring Jordan more closely into arrangements for administering the West Bank during the self-rule period. Mr Landau, a noted Rightwing nationalist and close aide of Mr Begin, was reported to have dwelt on aspects of the self-rule proposals.