Mubarak takes Mid-East peace plan to Washington

Press, 28 January 1988, Page 6

Mubarak takes Mid-East peace plan to Washington

NZPA-Reuter Washington The Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, took his strong bid for Middle-East peace talks to a hopeful but sceptical Washington yesterday.

Mr Mubarak, his position in the Arab world newly bolstered by renewed ties with many of the region’s nations, arrived with the backing of Britain and West Germany for his initiative. United States officials were quick to express hopes that another opportunity to get peace talks moving was in the offing. The tarnishing of Israel’s world image by its ruthless reaction to Palestinian protests in the occupied territories over the last six weeks has created pressure for a more flexible Israeli position on

talks, one said. The United States Secretary of State, George Shultz, agreed to meet two Palestinian leaders from the occupied territories yesterday in a surprise move that lent another air of movement to the peace bid. The Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Shamir, is to visit Washington in March, largely to discuss the violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Washington has said several times that it believes only Arab-Israeli peace talks can end the violence in the occupied

territories and United States officials say they hope it might be possible to persuade Mr Shamir to enter talks. Mr Shamir has refused stubbornly to contemplate attending an international peace conference which Washington is prepared to consider. Mr Shultz and several other cabinet members are due to hold talks with Mr Mubarak today. The Egyptian leader will meet President Reagan tomorrow. United States officials conveyed a strong sense of scepticism after a long

history of vain attempts to organise talks between Israel and its Arab neighbours. “There is an initiative to bring some fresh ideas, but it is not our understanding that he (Mr Mubarak) is coming with a full, integrated plan, a scenario for peacemaking,” a senior United States official, who asked not to be identified, told reporters. “We are examining all of our past efforts on the peace process. Just what the possibilities are of pursuing it in the present .environment is a little hard to say,” he said.

Mr Mubarak has proposed a six-month moratorium on all sides of the violence in the occupied territories during which Israel would halt further settlement of the areas and agree to an international peace conference. The United States official cautioned reporters against expecting any breakthrough during Mr Mubarak’s visit, his first to Washington since September, 1985. “I would not expect that. While we are meeting with a major player from the region, there are other players,” he said.