Israeli leader attacks U.S. suspension of pact

Press, 21 December 1981, Page 9

Israeli leader attacks U.S. suspension of pact

NZPA-Reuter Jerusalem The Israeli Defence Minister (Mr Ariel Sharon) said yesterday that the American suspension of a recently signed strategic co-operation agreement with Israel cast doubts on all its international commitments, including the Camp David peace accords. The United States suspended the agreement, signed only last month, and halted the buying of military equipment from Israeli factories. The action was in protest against Israel’s decision to annex the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in 1967. Mr Sharon said the American action “raises doubts about U.S. credibility to-

wards every one of its commitments abroad and this includes the Camp David agreements with Egypt. “Nobody, neither the United States nor Egypt, should have been surprised by our action on the Golan Heights.

“Our Government’s declaration of policies states that we will not leave the Heights and I myself told Egyptian leaders that w? could not withdraw because of the Golan’s vital strategic importance.”

He denied that Israel had any obligations under the strategic co-operation agreement to consult the United States before taking any such action. ■

“I negotiated the agree-

ment and I Mjiow that the Americans insisted that it must not apply/ to the IsraeliArab dispute lout only to the Soviet threat/ to the Middle East,” Mr Sbpron said. Washington's decision to halt the Maying of $2OO million wm th of Israelimade milifi ary equipment was a serH ,us blow to the nation’s dfl fence establishment. He sa id the American reaction vra s immature and out of all proportion. Other : Israeli officials questionedM.ne United States’ reliability (And sincerity, and one of th«m said: “We are now wondering how sincere the UmTw. States was in concluding phe strategic cooperation z greement since at

the first flimsy opportunity it suspended it.”

A Government spokesman said the United States Ambassador (Mr Samuel Lewis) had been summoned by the Prime Minister (Mr Menachem Begin) to discuss the matter with him before the regular Cabinet meeting. In Cairo the Egyptian President (Mr Hosni Mubarak) yesterday welcomed Washington’s decision. As he spoke, the People’s Assembly (Parliament) held an angry debate on the Israeli annexation. One delegate called for the withdrawal of the Egyptian Ambassador from Tel Aviv in protest. The Foreign Minister (Mr

Kamal Hassan All) urged Israel to recognise what he called rhe dangerous consequences of its move to formally take over the Golan.

The United States was putting Israel on notice that its conduct was viewed with suspicion, a senior State Department official said.