Autonomy talks break up

Press, 29 March 1980, Page 9

Autonomy talks break up

[NZPA-Reuter Alexandria [ Talks on Palestinian au i tonomy in the West Banl I and Gaza Strip have brokei [up, with • Egypt and Israe ■apparently resigned to thi fact that their difference; can only be resolved ir [meetings' with Presiden [Jimmy Carter next month. ' Yesterday’s talks among delegations from Egypt. Israel, and the United States ■ were the shortest of the 1( (sessions so far held in the [autonomy negotiations I which were set up last yeai las part of the Camp Davie (Middle . East peace settle;ment. Egypt and Israel hold widely-differing views on Palestinian autonomy. Egypt wants the Palestinians to have wide powers as a first step towards self-rule, while Israel is only prepared to allow them a limited say in the running of their affairs. After yesterday’s talks, which failed to reconcile any of the differences between the two countries, the Egyptain Prime Minister (Dr Mustapha Khalil) said everything now depended on next month’s Washington talks. President Carter will meet the Egyptian President (Mr Anwar Sadat) on April 8, and will later have a separate meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister (Mr Menachem Begin) in an attempt to break the deadlock. The Palestine Liberation Organisation leader. Mr Yasser Arafat, has flown to India to cement closer ties between the P.L.O. and a sympathetic Indian Government. India accorded the P.L.O. mission in New Delhi full diplomatic status this week, and Mr Arafat will be received as a Head of Government. During his official 48-hour stay, he will have a series of ' talks with the Indian Prime Minister (Mrs Indira Gandhi) and other Government leaders on the Middle East. India, a strong supporter of P.L.O. demands for a Palestinian homeland, wants to encourage Mr Arafat to maintain his present moderate policy. The External Affairs Minister (Mr P. V. Narasimha; Rao), announcing the visit,; called for the inclusion of[ the P.L.O. in the talks among Israel, Egypt, and the United States on Palestinian autonomy. India believed there could be no comprehensive settlement of the Middle East crisis without the involvement of the P.L.O. as a full partner in negotiations, Mr Rao said. |