M.E. impasse must be broken — Carter

Press, 10 April 1980, Page 8

M.E. impasse must be broken — Carter

|NZPA-Reuter Washington [ President Jimmy Carter! I has told Egypt and Israel) I that the impasse in their ! Palestinian self-rule talks, must be broken. He told a White House ! [banquet for President Anwar ! Sadat after three hours of 'talks with the Egyptian ! leader: j “We cannot afford to fail because these two nations are committed to peace and: led by two courageous men ; who are determined not to) fail.” | But there was no hint ofi optimism from either Mr! Carter or Mr Sadat that the' slow-moving negotiations be-, tween Egypt and Israel on! autonomy for Palestinians in! the West Bank and Gazal Strip can meet their May 26 i deadline for agreement. Mr Carter will hold a second and final round of talks with Mr Sadat today. The Israeli Prime Minister (Mr Menachem Begin) will meet Mr Carter for talks next week.

Referring to the 1978 Camp David accords, which led to the Egyptian-Israeli

peace treaty, Mr Carter said: “It would be inconceivable that we would let this promise slip from our grasp . . . it is inconceivable".” In reply, Mr Sadat avoided referring to the May 26 target, saying only: “In the weeks and months ahead, we shall continue to work to-

gether for the consolidation of peace.’’ President Carter told the dinner guests, in what some listeners took to be a subtle iab, that Mr Begin had said many times he was committed not just to autonomy Hit to full autonomy for the .-’alestinians.

He recited a number of Camp David pledges that are now sticking points in the negotiations, among them Israel’s commitment to withdraw military forces from the West Bank and Gaza, reach an accord on security I arrangements, and recognise the right of Palestinians to help determine their future. Mr Carter said he. Mr Begin, and President Sadat had planned to carry out all these agreements on their word of honour and the honour of the three countries. United States officials said the realistic goal now was to achieve sufficient progress at Mr Carter’s separate meetings with the two leaders to justify prolongation of the autonomy negotiations. After today’s talks, Mr Sadat will confer with leading Congressmen and Cabinet members.