Israel angered by Arafat talks

Press, 10 July 1979, Page 8

Israel angered by Arafat talks

NZPA-Reuter Vienna A serious diplomatic row has developed between Austria and Israel after Chancellor Bruno Kreisky had three days of talks with the Palestinian guerrilla leader, Yasser Arafat.

Israel announced that it would recall it Ambassador in Vienna for consultations in protest against the talks, which were also attended by the former West German Chancellor. Willy Brandt. » But Dr Kreisky, who is of Jewish descent, "told a news conference that the 10 hours of Middle East discussions between the three men had been “very, very informative.”

All three expressed “extreme concern” over Israeli settlement in occupied Arab territories. They described it

in a communique as a grave impediment to peace. It was the first official visit' to the West by Mr Arafat, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, since he addressed the United Nations General Assembly in 1974. He was invited by Dr Kreisky in ”te Chancellor’s capacity as vice-president of the Socialist Internationa!. Meanwhile, the American Middle East envoy, Robert Strauss, has left Cairo for home after briefing Jordanian and Saudi leaders on last week’s Palestinian auto-, nomy talks in Alexandria, Egypt. During the Alexandria talks, Mr Strauss persuaded Egypt and Israel to agree on an agenda over which they have been deadlocked since the talks began in May.