Prior to the London Conference, President Sadat travelled to Austria to attend the meetings of the Socialist International. On 9 July he met with Israel Labour Party Chairman Peres, and on 13 July with Defence Minister Weizman. Weizman reported to the cabinet at its 16 July meeting that Sadat had softened his Six Point Plan, but desired Israeli gestures, especially the return of El-Arish and St. Catharine before the renewal of the peace negotiations. In an interview Sadat announced that he could speak "the same language" with Weizman and Peres, but not with Mr. Begin. This prompted the cabinet to proclaim that in the future only it and its authorized representatives will have the exclusive authority to negotiate with Egypt. Text:
At the weekly Cabinet session:
The Minister of Defence briefed the Cabinet on his talks in Salzburg with the President of Egypt and the Egyptian Minister of War. The proposals which were presented to the Defence Minister will be discussed at next Sunday's Cabinet session, at which time they will be decided upon.
(The discussion of this item was conducted in the framework of the Ministerial Defence Committee.)
The Cabinet has released the following statement:
1. The Government of Israel will continue to conduct negotiations with Egypt on the establishment of peace and the signing of peace treaties.
2. The sole authority to conduct negotiations with Egypt or with any country that is in a state of war with Israel rests with the Government and its representatives who have been so empowered by it for this purpose.
3. The level of the representatives of the negotiating states shall correspond to heads of state or Ministers empowered by them shall head their delegations.
4. Israel holds to its proposal to renew the deliberations of the Political and Military Committees headed by the Defence and Foreign Ministers of both countries.