Cairo’s backing Syria strains ties with Israel

Press, 11 April 1979, Page 8

Cairo’s backing Syria strains ties with Israel

NZPA-Reuter Cairo | Egypt’s new relationship with'lsrael showed signs of [strain yesterday after the [ Cairo Government declared jit would back Syria in a possible war over occupied territory. The declaration by the Egyptian Prime Minister (Dr Mustapha Khalil) was the first serious difference between the two countries since they signed a peace treaty in Washington two weeks ago.

Reports of Dr Khalil’s remarks before members of Parliamentary committees last week have already brought protest from Israel, which said they violated the peace pact. The Prime Minister said Egypt would “stand at Syria’s side” if the Damascus Government went to war with a recalcitrant Israel over the Golan Heights, according to an official source quoted by Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency. Dr Khalil said it would be Syria’s legitimate right to fight to recover the heights if Israel refused to withdraw after negotiations within the framework of the Camp

I David accords, M.E.N.A. reported. The M.E.N.A. report came as the Egyptian Parliament resumed debate to ratify the peace treaty. A referendum is expected to be held on Sunday in a bid to show Arab States that the treaty has widespread support. The Parliamentary debate has brought criticism from Opposition members, who said it would not serve the cause of peace in the region. Dr Khalil said Egypt considered the Camp David accords concluded with the United States and Israel, in September to be a framework for other Arab Governments directly involved to negotiate a peaceful settlement with Israel.

According to M.E.N.A., Dr Khalil said that if Syria entered into negotiations with Israel, it had the right to reach the same results as Egypt —-Israeli withdrawal, the exercise of sovereignty, the elimination of Israeli settlements, and security arrangements to be agreed upon by the two parties in accordance with the Camp David accords. Dr Khalil said: “If Israel expressed obstinacy and refused to withdraw . . . the liberation of occupied territories according to the

United Nations Charter is' considered a legitimate act of defence, and Egypt will stand at Syria’s side in implementation of the joint Arab defence pact,” M.E.N.A. said.

The agency said Dr Khalil had earlier told a meeting of the Parliamentary committee of the ruling National Democratic Party that if Israel accepted these conditions and “Syria starts the.aggression. this aggression will not be considered within the framework of the joint defence pact and does not commit Egypt to enter into war on Syria’s side.” Syria has rejected the Camp David accords — and the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that the Israeli Foreign Minister (Mr Moshe Dayan) had sent a letter on the subject of Dr Khalil’s reported remarks to the United States Government. The Israeli Prime Minister (Mr Menachem Begin) had sent a copy to the Egyptian President (Mr Anwar Sadat) accompanied by a personal note.

Egypt has denied that it has received the Israeli protest, and M.E.N.A. said that the Cairo Government would reject it when it arrived.