Israel unmoved by Saudi envoy’s assurance

Press, 17 November 1981, Page 9

Israel unmoved by Saudi envoy’s assurance

NZPA-Reuter Jerusalem

■lsrael yesterday reaffirmed its firm opposition to Saudi Arabia’s eight-point Middle East plan, saying its views were not changed by a Saudi diplomat’s remarks that the plan recognised Israel’s existence.

An Israeli Cabinet spokesman, Arye Naor,. was asked by journalists to comment on a statement by the Saudi Acting United Nations Ambassador (Mr Gaafar Allagany) that the plan “does recognise Israel.” . ' The “New York Times” quoted Mr Allagany as saying: “It (the plan) does recognise Israel. It says ‘all States." We are not afraid to say that it does recognise Israel. We are. not shying away from that word ‘lsrael’ in any sense.”

The Saudi Arabian peace plan was announced on August 7 by Crown Prince lts eight points included the confirmation of the right of all States of the region to live' in peace. It does not mention Israel by name, and the Israelis have said it does not include them

because the Saudis, in common with most Arab Sta'tes, refer to Israel as the “Zionist entity" rather than a State:'

Mr Allagany later told NZPA-Reuters: “It (the plan) mentions all States, and to us that means Israel. All States have the right to live in secure and recognised boundaries, exactly like (United Nations Security Council resolution) 242.” Mr Naor replied: “The Israeli Government’s position remains unchanged. Prime Minister Menachem Begin has said the Saudi plan is a design to annihilate Israel by stages . . . the plan has not changed and there is. no reason for us to change our mind.” ’ j'■ :

Mr Naor said that the Israeli Cabinet did not discuss the remarks by the Saudi diplomat at its regular weekly meeting on Sunday. Earlier. officials said Israel’s policy would not be based on “this or that interpretation of Saudi Arabia’s eight-point plan." One close aide of Mr Begin said the Saudi plan could not

be the basis for any peace talks. '

r. “As Premier Begin has stated several times in the past, if any Arab leader wants peace with Israel he must come to Jerusalem or invite Israel’s Prime Minister to his capital for negotiations. provided there are no prior conditions." The Opposition Labour Leader (Mr Shimon Peres) told Israel Army radio he supported discussions without preconditions with the Saudis. :

The Israeli Knesset (Parliament) overwhelmingly rejected , the plan, largely because it calls for withdrawal from all territories occupied in the 1967 war and for the setting up of a separate Palestinian State with East Jerusalem its capital. The Labour Party, in rare agreement with the Government, joined a parliamentary delegation to the United States to express deep concern at what is seen in Jerusalem as a shift towards Saudi Arabia by United States policy.