Shortly after initiating the U.S.-Panama agreement for the settlement of the Panama Canal issue, President Torrijos of Panama embarked on a world tour that also took him to Israel. At a state dinner in his honour, Prime Minister Begin recalled the excellent ties between Israel and Panama and hailed the recent agreement on the Canal as the best example for the settlement of disputes between nations. Excerpts follow:
"... I wish to express my sincere pleasure at welcoming among us the Chief of the government of Panama and the members of his party. This visit is fraught with meaning for us, signifying as it does the ties of friendship and cooperation existing between our two countries...
The special significance of this visit is in its timing, several weeks after Your Excellency, together with the U.S. President, participated in a historical event in the life of the America continent: The signature of the new agreement on the Panama Canal - an example for the settlement of disputes between nations, with good will overcoming differences of opinion among the international community.
Permit me, Your Excellency, to express my sincere appreciation of your own part in the achievement of this noble goal. The supreme qualities of political leadership demonstrated in the process contributed to the successful realization of Panama's aims by fruitful negotiation among the parties directly concerned with the dispute.
We ourselves, who stand at the very outset of our renaissance as a free sovereign people, are confronted by a regrettable dispute with our neighbouring countries. We see in this (your) act a striking example for the way to be adopted in order to obtain that peace we so fervently seek, after hundreds of years in exile and after having suffered the most horrible Holocaust ever experienced by mankind. We shall know therefore to ensure and establish the Jewish People's right to free and sovereign existence. We want peace to reign in the Middle East, with victory over hunger and poverty as the common aim of the region's people.
It has been a constant source of encouragement for us that this our endeavour has, throughout the years, enjoyed the understanding and support of the government of Panama, and the amical relations between our countries have resulted in fruitful ties and mutual cooperation in the spheres of culture, science and technology. It is our endeavour that this cooperation should be translated into support by Panama of Israel's just struggle. Your Excellency's brilliant remarks during our meeting yesterday highlight my hope that such support may be forthcoming in the international arena.
Our talks encompassed various fields of bilateral relations, in an atmosphere of full appreciation of the problems facing us, and the firm resolve to work together in the search for positive solutions. Our conclusions are bound to guide the activity of the bodies who are charged with forging the tools required for the realization of our aims.
... I have no doubt that you will carry with you not only the image of this ancient country, fraught with immense spiritual significance for our culture - but also the evidence of the effort made by the people of Israel to realize political re-birth in its country. May you also take with you a message of friendship and brotherhood to your great people. I raise my glass in a toast to the happiness of the people of Panama and the success of it great leader, General Omar Torrijos Herrera."