(Communicated by Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
July 16, 2000
Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister David Levy hosted a
luncheon in Jerusalem today in honor of Deputy Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, Jan Kavan.
Lebanon:
After briefing his guest on the latest developments in the region,
Levy stated that he has reason to believe that the Lebanese
Government is about to deploy troops in the South, thus fulfilling
its obligations under Resolution 425 of the UN Security Council. This
follows the UN's determination that Israel has fulfilled all of its
obligations under the same resolution. "We may be at the dawn of a
new era in which every state will fulfill its responsibilities," Levy
added.
Palestinians:
As for the talks with the Palestinians, Minister Levy said that it
seems that Israel's negotiating partners have not yet internalized
the need for compromises on their side as well. Levy pointed out that
the rhetorical style in which the Palestinian leaders express
themselves to their people is not consistent with the language of
peace. He added that it is unacceptable that, at even while the peace
process is going on, the Palestinians continue to pursue anti-Israel
policies in their international diplomatic relations. Levy noted that
in the preliminary talks there was evidently more wishful thinking
than real progress. "As long as the Palestinians think that they can
achieve peace by subduing Israel, there will not be an agreement,"
Levy said.
Iran:
The ministers also discussed the subject of the growing threat from
Iran and the harsh sentences handed down to the ten Iranian Jews for
offenses which they did not commit.
Bilateral Relations:
Concerning Israeli-Czech relations, both ministers emphasized that
relations between the two countries are good and developing in all
areas. Levy and Kavan praised the aid which the Czech Republic
extended to Israel during the War of Independence and the strong ties
between the Czech Republic and its capital Prague and the Jewish
people.
They discussed the possibility of advancing the economic ties between
the two countries in various ways; for example, increasing Israeli
investment in the Czech Republic, and the participation of Czech
companies in Israeli tenders and projects in the fields of energy and
transportation.
Levy instructed officials in his ministry to intensify activity with
the Czech government in these realms, through cooperation between the
two foreign ministries and the embassies in the respective capitals.
The two ministers also signed an agreement regarding social security
between the Czech Republic and Israel.