While preparations were being made for the Cairo conference, Israeli experts were drawing up the Israeli peace plan. Secretary of State Vance was in the Middle East for talks with various leaders. He was unsuccessful in persuading the leaders of Syria and Jordan to attend the Cairo conference. President Assad stated flatly that Syria will not be dragged to Cairo. In Israel, the Secretary and Premier Begin held a joint press conference in which Mr. Vance said that progress could be made in Cairo even without unanimity in the Arab world. Excerpts:
Mr. Begin: Before President Sadat arrived in Jerusalem, I sent a cable to the President of the United States in which I said, inter alia:
"People in our country and abroad contend that this is an historic moment. You have created it, Mr. President."
Tonight I think it is a propitious moment to emphasize the appreciation which we, the Israelis, have for the President, for the Secretary of State, for the Government of United States and for both Houses of Congress.
We are now in the midst of the peacemaking process, making a serious, real effort to achieve and establish peace in the Middle East. I would like to stress that it is the accepted policy of the Governments of the United States, of Israel and of Egypt that our efforts are directed toward a comprehensive peace settlement, without any intention of reaching peace between two countries and signing a bilateral peace treaty, bypassing the other countries. On the contrary, we intend to do our utmost and our best to bring about the establishment of peace and the signing of peace treaties between Israel and all her neighbours, to the south, to the east and to the north.
And, in this effort, we are helped to a very great extent by the Government of the United States, by the President and the Secretary of State.
Mr. Vance: Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister, for your very kind words. I bring with me the appreciation, the gratitude and the admiration of President Carter and of all Americans. The leadership which you, Mr. Prime Minister, and President Sadat have given to the movement for peace is something which history will record for generations to come. I am terribly pleased that I am able to be here at this point, to meet with you and to discuss what we can do to help follow the leadership which you and President Sadat have given to the search for peace. I feel that our discussions today, which have been, as always, friendly and fruitful, have helped very much in guiding our steps in a supportive role in the days ahead. So I thank you again, Mr. Prime Minister, on behalf of myself, my colleagues and the President, and I share your hope. I think that there is a chance of moving forward now towards real peace, a true and lasting peace.
At this moment both Syria and Jordan have indicated that they do not intend to participate in the Cairo Conference. That is a decision which each must take as an independent sovereign nation. What the future will hold, I do not think any of us can predict. We hope they will keep an open mind and, as the peace process moves forward, that they will decide to join the peace process. But we must look to them to make that decision.
Mr. Begin: I can only express hope that both Syria and Jordan will join in the effort. You remember, in the Knesset, I invited them for the third time, either to come to Jerusalem as President Sadat did or, if they would prefer me to go to see them, I will go any place and meet them. But I understand that this is a part of the American effort now, and therefore the Secretary of State is here and will visit both Amman and Damascus to try, indeed, to convince the leaders of the two countries to join.
Mr. Vance: I think that it is possible that these other countries may decide at some point to join the peace process, as the Prime Minister said. All of us hope that this would be the case, and we will continue to urge that they keep an open mind and join the peace process and try and help in achieving the common goal which all of us share, because I do believe that they, too, want peace.
Mr. Begin: We are now in the midst of the most delicate negotiations to establish peace after long, protracted years of warfare between the countries. Give those negotiations a chance. And everything is, as I have said time and again, negotiable - except, of course, the destruction of Israel - and everything will be negotiated. But the negotiations will take place in Cairo, in Geneva, in Jerusalem and, with all due respect, not before the camera of our mighty friend, the television.
Mr. Vance: We should all like to see unanimity because, the sooner unanimity is achieved, the more rapid the progress will be towards peace. That does not mean, however, that progress cannot be made even though one has less than unanimity. Yes, it is obvious that there has been a split in the Arab world. However, as time moves forward, I think all of us hope and believe that there is a possibility that that split can be healed, can disappear, and that one can find a greater degree of unanimity than there is at the present time. But I think there is a chance for real peace, and we must get started on that course.
Mr. Begin: The delegations, both of Egypt and Israel, will deal with the basic principles of the peace treaties to be negotiated, concluded and ultimately signed. And, as you know, under international law there are many chapters and articles, sections and subsections of a peace treaty which are of very great value to the future of any nation which signs such a very important document of international standing and value. And this is going to be discussed in Cairo and, again, I want to stress, it will be a sample for the peace treaties to be signed with all our neighbours. The peacemaking process which is starting now in Cairo under no circumstances will be the end - it will be the beginning of that process which ultimately must bring about the establishment of permanent peace in the Middle East.
The problem of the Palestinian Arabs will be discussed and debated. We do think of it, and I am sure we shall find a solution for this problem.
While in Jerusalem, President Sadat said that, when we start talking directly about peace, he would like to represent, if I may say so, the Arab cause, and we agreed. So I have no doubt whatsoever that, in Cairo, our delegations will talk, not only about the bilateral relations between Egypt and Israel, but also about the problems concerning other countries in the Middle East neighbouring with Israel. I can only imagine that President Sadat will not claim that he can now speak, for instance, on behalf of President Assad, because President Assad doesn't agree to talk with us. So this is a problem, indeed, of the peacemaking process. Let us have patience. If, for the time being, there are those who take a negative attitude, we should be optimistic - it will change, I believe it will change, and they will join in that effort. It is a problem of time. Let us give ourselves some time.
You might have seen, my friend, that we do not go into public polemics about any statements whatsoever. I think it is a healthy attitude. The real response is negotiations, and negotiations will start on Wednesday in Cairo.
Mr. Vance: I have discussed with President Sadat the questions of the divisions that exist within the Arab world. He, like all of us, would like to see those divisions healed and disappear. I will, in my talks with the other Arab leaders, urge them, as we have from the outset, to participate in the peace process. We have said this to them from the moment the Cairo Conference was proposed. They have indicated that they, too, seek the same end objective, namely a comprehensive peace which will settle the questions of the Middle East and, therefore, I will continue to pursue our positions with respect to this and discuss that matter with them.
Mr. Begin: I do not agree with the theory that a divided Arab world will help Israel On the contrary, we believe that we should have peace on all the borders of Israel, and sign peace treaties with all our four neighbours: Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. All four neighbours should live in peace with Israel, and Israel wants to live in peace with them. We do not drive wedges, we do not believe in that famous Latin precept, Vivide et impera." We do not want to divide and we do not want to rule. We want peace. This is what we believe in.
Tripoli cannot make anybody optimistic. When I spoke about optimism, I meant the trend, the development, the hope to overcome the negation of the Tripolitanians and, of course, it is a most negative phenomenon for the time being. What did they say in Tripoli? No recognition of the State of Israel; no negotiations with Israel; no peace with Israel. Actually, another pronouncement was made, of course. The Soviet Union is behind that negative attitude, which is very regrettable, because the Soviet Union is a great power and is a co-chairman of the Geneva Conference. But this happened, let me say, two weeks ago, and that does not decide the issue. Mankind will march forward. War is avoidable peace is inevitable. So we shall overcome, with a common effort, that hurdle, too. And Syria and Lebanon and Jordan will join in the peace effort and, ultimately, we shall have peace throughout the region. This is our belief.
Mr. Vance: With reference to the Soviet Union - the Soviet Union is a co-chairman of the Geneva Conference. They have a serious responsibility, as we do, as co-chairman. They have said that they intend to discharge that responsibility. I do not want to comment on their motives and, therefore, will not do so.