69 Israel government statement- 20 March 1975

On 8 March Dr. Kissinger began another round of shuttle diplomacy. Egypt demanded Israeli withdrawal from the Mitla and Gidi passes and the Abu Rudeis oil fields, but was unwilling to end the state of war. Israel offered to withdraw from the Abu Rudeis area and from the western half of the passes in return for a long term Egyptian agreement to refrain from the use of force in the future. Israel also asked for limitation of the Arab boycott, propaganda and political warfare. Israel also wanted to retain its early warning station at Um Hashiba, but Egypt refused to agree to this even though Israel suggested the construction of a similar Egyptian station in the UN controlled buffer zone. On 19 March the talks were deadlocked. President Ford addressed a sharp note to Mr. Rabin urging Israel to accept the Egyptian offer and threatened that failure to do so would force the U.S. to reassess it policy. A last minute effort was made to save the talks and the Israeli negotiating team was authorized by the entire cabinet to continue the discussions.