Egyptians seek ‘good-will’

Press, 9 April 1979, Page 8

Egyptians seek ‘good-will’

NZPA-Reuter Cairo Egypt has told the United States it wants Israeli “good-will measures” —

aimed at encouraging Palestinians to join peace talks — to extend to the West Bank of the Jordan, the authoritative Cairo newspapers, “Al-Ahram,” has said. Egypt, considered pledges already made by Israel to the United States as insufficient since they were mainly confined to the Gaza Strip, the paper said. Egypt, which is due to start negotiations with Israel in about a month’s time on Palestinian autonomy for the two regions, has asked Israel to take several actions unilaterally to demonstrate good-will towards the Palestinians.

“Al-Ahram,” which published an exchange of letters between the Egyptian Prime Minister (Dr Mustapha Kha-

lil) and President Jimmy Carter, said Egypt was now awaiting a response from Israel.

After the Egyptian-Israeli treaty was signed, Israel promised several measures designed to placate Palestinians both in the Gaza Strip and on the West Bank. They included lowering their military profile in Arab areas by moving their military headquarters out of big cities, lifting bans on political activities in the areas, and holding speedy trials for Palestinians being held without charge. The effect of the gesture by the Israelis was uncertain, diplomatic sources saying that the moves were unlikely to sway hard-line Palestinians who shape opinion in the occupied territories.

However, Israeli sources called the move a significant step and predicted its importance would not be lost on Egypt’s leaders.