73 Comments by Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Shamir on his talks with Prime Minister Thatcher- 4 June 1985

The British government supported the new four step plan of King Hussein, but continued to oppose an international peace conference. Britain and Israel disagreed on the need to involve the PLO in the process. Mr. Shamir made the following remarks after meeting with Mrs. Thatcher in London, the first capital he visited on that trip. Mrs. Thatcher felt, according to Mr. Shamir, that the PLO was acceptable to the Palestinian Arabs. Text:

"Regarding the peace process, there is disagreement regarding the participation of PLO representatives in the process, with us opposing this, while they (the British government) think that this is necessary. And this is not a new stand of theirs, it's not something that started today. This position received some encouragement because of the King Hussein's statements now in Washington. As regards an international conference, there is agreement between us'. The British government opposed such a conference, (and) does not see in it any contribution to the peace process.

Q: Margaret Thatcher has spoken on innumerable occasions about the need to combat terrorism. What, then, was her personal attitude towards the PLO?

A: Today as well she says that she opposes any cooperation of any kind with terrorism, and that she is in favor of international cooperation in the battle against terrorism in the Middle East and everywhere else. But she believes that in any case, in order to advance the matter of peace in the Middle East, one must speak to people who are acceptable to Arabs of Eretz Israel."