Speaking after his meeting with the U.S. envoy Charles Hill, the prime minister said that while Israel and the U.S. still differed on the issue of the international conference, other possibilities aimed at promoting the peace process were discussed He did not rule out the idea of interim settlements. He also rejected any American pressure on Israel in the matter of the Lavi project. This followed a State Department call on Israel to halt the project. Excerpts:
Mr. Shamir: "We spoke about ideas besides the matter of the international conference, which I do not regard as an instrument for advancing peace. I think that, together with the U.S., we will find a way to set out on these paths."
Q: Is it your impression that the U.S. is ready to consider seriously other possibilities and that its enthusiasm for an international conference has cooled?
A: I am not willing to speak in the name of the United States. But it is clear that the U.S. is ready to examine various routes to advance the peace - something it is very interested in - and even with respect to the international conference idea, the U.S. always said it is ready to examine to what degree this kind of conference can advance the possibility of direct negotiations. So this was a way of examining the matter, and I think that the very visit of Mr. Hill to hold talks with me, shows that the U.S. is open to and is requesting new ideas.
Q: Does the idea of interim settlements seem a feasible way to launch a peace process?
A: At all events, these are ideas which we discussed, and as the saying goes, "final action requires prior thought."
Q: What is your reaction to the State Department's unequivocal call to Israel to halt the Lavi project?
A: We have always held talks with the U.S. on everything concerning the Lavi project, in which the U.S. is a serious partner. The Americans have always said that the decision on the Lavi should be an Israeli one, and I think that this is our view and this is our stand. The decision on the Lavi should be an Israeli decision; it should not be dependent on any form of pressure. We will discuss this at next Sunday's Cabinet meeting, and I think we will also make a decision - and the decision will be an Israeli one.
Q: Is there no danger that an Israeli decision conflicting with the U.S. stand could generate a serious crisis in the security relations between the two countries?
A: I think that this notion is highly exaggerated. We are not looking for crises, nor is the U.S. looking for special difficulties. We have already gone through such things.
Q: Will we be able to proceed with the project even in the absence of U.S. funding as in the past?
A: We will discuss this. I do not think that this is what is at stake, but we will have to discuss this as well.