In this interview, President Sadat again reiterated his views that the Palestinian problem is the core of the Arab-Israel conflict, and that Egypt trusts the United States to such an extent that if Washington plays its cards right, a solution could be found in a Geneva conference in one month. Excerpts:
Q. Some three years ago in a film that we made about you, the lsraeli Prime Minister Begin said: "Sadat is an enemy, an implacable enemy of Israel", are you?
A. I am not an enemy of anyone at all. I am an enemy only of aggression.
Q. It has been reported that Mr. Begin is toning down, at least publicly, his views on the occupied territories. Do you believe it?
A. I do not believe in anything that the Israelis say. I am sure that the Israelis also have their suspicions towards anything I say. We must say this and we must be, I mean, frank and we must be honest. Both sides, the Arabs and Israelis, have no confidence in each other.
Q. If Mr. Begin suggested to the U.S. - in the West Bank of the Jordan - that the administrative and economic matters reverted to Jordan and the military and security matters stayed with Israel, how would you respond?
A. I shall refuse point blank. Sure, I shall refuse. As you have stated, I have always said that the Palestinian problem is the core of the whole problem. It is not Sinai or the Golan Heights at all. All this has started with the Palestinian question, so if we are now concerned about establishment of peace in the area we should solve this problem.
Q. You have said repeatedly that the U.S. has all the cards to play in the Middle East. Are you convinced that the U.S. will play them?
A. We trust you. The Israelis, and this is very sarcastic, to which you are providing everything, they don't trust you. Well, they should trust you. If the U.S. will, with the special relations with Israel, do its efforts, I am sure in one month in Geneva we can achieve a final solution.
Q. President Carter has said that this will be the last time for any years when it is possible to bring the parties in the Mid East together. Do you agree?
A. I think that it is a very crucial moment that are in now. And I think, as I have said before, the Arabs have never been ready at any time during the last 29 years like today for a peaceful settlement.