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111. Israel Government statement following breakdown of Political Committee talks, 19 January 1978.
In an unexpected move, President Sadat ordered the Egyptian delegation back to Cairo from Jerusalem as the talks of the Political Committee were in their second day. The move, not anticipated by any of the participants in the talks, caught the Egyptian delegation by surprise. As some progress was being made, Israel and the U.S. could not understand the reasons that motivated Sadat to break off the talks. The next day Israel issued a statement:
The Government of Israel noted with regret the announcement of the Egyptian Government as to the sudden suspension of the negotiations within the framework of the political committee. This abrupt Egyptian announcement proves once more that the Egyptian Government was under the illusion that Israel would surrender to demands that at no time were acceptable to Israel. The Egyptian delegation demanded of the Israeli delegation the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Sinai, the Golan, Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister, on his arrival in Israel, did not hesitate to demand that Israel transfer the Old City of Jerusalem to foreign rule, and further demanded the establishment of a. Palestinian, state in the territory of Eretz Yisrael in Judea, Samaria, and in Gaza. Such a Palestinian state I would have extinguished any prospect of peace, and would have created a danger to the Very existence of the Jewish state.
There has never been, and there will never be, a government in Israel that would agree to such conditions. However, the Government of Israel, which strives for a real peace, has proved its willingness by presenting a peace plan that was received positively by all those who have seen it. The Israeli peace plan was presented on 17 December to President Carter and his advisors. Secretary of State Vance declared in an official communique that it is a "notable contribution" and that it contains a constructive approach. President Carter announced on 28 December 1977 that the Israeli peace plan, contains "a great deal of flexibility" and that it is "a long step forward." Former President Ford and ranking senators, including the leader of the majority in Congress and British Prime Minister Mr. Callaghan, have declared that it is a most constructive plan. It is only the Egyptian Government, in its astonishing intransigence, that sees the plan as "delaying tactics" and "deceit," and which decided, in the midst of this early stage of the negotiations on a "declaration of principles," to suspend the talks. We did not put any preconditions. We did not make any discussion on Egyptian proposals conditional on their acceptance of ours. As in all negotiations, there was an exchange of proposals and counter-proposals. Israel will continue to strive for the establishment of a permanent and just peace with her neighbours. Should the Egyptian Government decide to renew the negotiations, Israel will be willing to do so.
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