Crucial talks start on Palestinian status in West Bank, Gaza

Press, 26 May 1979, Page 8

Crucial talks start on Palestinian status in West Bank, Gaza

NZPA-Reuter

Cairo

Representatives of the United States. Egypt, and Israel are meeting to discuss Palestinian self-rule in Israeli-occupied territories after personal pleas from the United States Secretary of State. Mr Cyrus Vance, to make the negotiations worth while.

In a busy day, Mr Vance; conferred with the Israeli.; Prime Minister (Mr Men-.! achem Begin) in London on the thorny issue of Palestin-j. ian autonomy in the West;! Bank and Gaza Strip, before;) flying to the Egyptian capi-; tai. ; From Cairo, he went to’; [the Mediterranean port city! of Alexandria and back byh I helicopter for talks with the! | Egyptian President Air (Anwar Sadat). I United States officials said j Mr Vance had told both;, {leaders serious negotiations!) {were essential to persuade! [other Arab States that the!' .Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty'; ! was the Only way to proceed' [towards a comprehensive! '.settlement in the Middle; East. Mr Vance told reporters! I that the opening of the talks;! [in the Israeli Negev Desert; [town of Beersheba, and the! ! return of the Sinai port of! lEI Arish by Israel to Egypt [ ! after 12 years of occupation,’ marked a new era. But potential snags devel-| oped before the autonomy;' talks even began.

I The formal negotiating; positions of both Egypt and ; Israel are rlmost diametri- [ tally opposed on such cru-! I cial areas as the rights of Palestinians in a self-govern-[ing State, and the controversial construction of Is-; [ raeli settlements in occupied [areas. ! Israeli hopes that the borIder between the two countries would be immediately, (opened after the hand-over [of El Arish. which Mr Begin, [says was promised by Presi[dent Sadat, may also not be [realised. i Asked about the border [question, President Sadat' ■said he had promised Mr (Begin “something about, [opening the border.” But he declined to say! [whether he would declare an [open border when he meets' (Mr Begin tomorrow. Under the peace accords,; !Egypt is committed only to! ! opening its' border with Is-! . rael nine months after the [start of Palestinian negotia-* Itions. | Among problems still to ;be resolved when the! .border should be opened

and. on a more local note, 'what to do with 5000 El I Arish residents who until 1 now have travelled daily to jobs in Israel. For the last two weeks, Egyptian officials have been preparing for the hand-over. Arab inhabitants have been : handing in driving licences and other Israeli-issued documents to be replaced 'with Eygptian ones. Israeli pounds, legal tenIder since Israel seized El Arish in the 1967 war. are being exchanged for Egyptian pounds. ! Most Israeli troops and 'policemen were reported tc ; have already left El Arish, [and the remaining Israelis, [numbering about 200. were Ito leave after their flag is i lowered. “Israel has kept its word ; and is handing over every- ; thing in perfect condition.” [said the Egyptian Defence, ! Minister (Lieutenant-General Kamal Hassan Ali) in a. Cairo interview. Despite the Egyptian eu-1 phoria, no-one doubts that! [plenty of difficult negotiation.s lie ahead.