The Israel-Egypt peace treaty set up a multinational force to monitor the security arrangements in the Sinai following Israel's withdrawal in April 1982. An agreement was reached in June between Israel, Egypt and the United States and was ratified by the Knesset in July 1981. The Multinational Force and Observers (MF0) would have 2000 soldiers and 1000 support and service personnel. In October the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, speaking for the European member states in the EEC, said that the Europeans will participate in the force only within the framework of the 1980 Venice Declaration. In the following Cabinet statement, Israel rejected this position outright. Later, Mr. Shamir traveled to Washington and the issue was resolved to Israel's satisfaction. Text:
At the weekly Cabinet meeting:
The Prime Minister gave the Cabinet a political overview, and especially dwelt on Israel's two sine qua non conditions regarding the establishment of the multi-national force in Sinai, and following the declaration made by the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, the Prime Minister said:
1. The Multi-National Force in the Sinai will not supervise the Israeli withdrawal.
2. There is not - and there will not be - any reference to the Venice Declaration.
The only documents which serve as the bases for the establishment of the Multi-National Force are the Camp David Accords, the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty, the letter of President Carter to President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin, and the agreement on the establishment of the Multi-National Force. The non-mention of any documents other than those above is for Israel an ultimate condition for the participation of any country in the force.