Mr. Shamir attempted in this interview to soften somewhat the total rejection by Israel of the Reagan Plan, by stating that Israel was ready to negotiate with Egypt and the United States on the autonomy plan according to the Camp David Agreements. He also regretted the absence of any prior consultation between the U.S. and Israel on the Reagan Plan, but assured Israelis that there was no crisis in the relations with the United States. Text:
Q: Mr. Shamir, the American Defense Secretary has said that President Reagan does not raise plans lightly. Israel has declared it will not discuss the Reagan Plan. Is there a crisis now between Israel and the U.S. over the Reagan Plan?
A: I would say that there are deep differences of views about this new plan which Israel cannot accept. I don't think there is a crisis, I ... we know that in the history of the relations between the U.S. and Israel there were many differences of views, and in spite of these differences a special relationship between Israel and the U.S. continues until this day.
Q: But if the U.S. persists with the Regan plan, what will it mean for the peace process, for the Camp David Accords?
A: We are ready and eager to resume the negotiations between us and Egypt and the U.S. about the establishment of the autonomy in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza district according to the Camp David Agreements, and by this resumption of the negotiations we have not to take into account new principles which are not in accordance with the Camp David Accords.
Q: The U.S. did not consult Israel with regard to the Reagan Plan. How serious a view do you take of this?
A: We regret it. We think it's not useful to publish new guidelines of principles about the peace process in which we are very involved without consulting us. We believe that it is always necessary and more than necessary to consult us...
Q: Do you consider this plan the price for American support in the war in Lebanon?
A: I don't think we have to pay a price. We've already paid and the price was our sacrifices, our immense sacrifices and I think that the results of this operation for the U.S. are very very positive and we have not to pay any price; we are not asking for any reward.
Q: Here in Israel the Labor Party has come out in support of some parts of the Reagan plan. Some Israeli supporters in the U.S. also seem to favor it. Is this not going to hamper Israel's campaign against the Reagan plan as such?
A: It is a difficult, but you know in a democratic country we have always encountered differences of views. But the important fact is that the majority - and I can say now the great majority - of the Israeli people and the Jewish people in the Diaspora are supporting the Israeli government.
Q: Do Israel and the U.S. still see eye-to-eye on what is to be done in Lebanon. Did this come up in your meeting with the Defense Secretary?
A: Yes, I am glad to say that it was cleared in our last meeting between me and the Defense Secretary that we have identical views about the further stages of the situation in Lebanon.