The Israel Foreign Ministry embarked on a major information campaign designed to explain to international opinion makers and through them to decision makers the nature of the Shamir Plan. High ranking officials were dispatched to major capitals. He noted that the American response to the plan was positive and that it was being studied in Cairo. Excerpts:
Q: Would it be premature to launch an information campaign about the prime minister's plan so long as the details have not been worked out or finalized by the Cabinet?
A: No, it is not early at all. The prime minister presented his four-point initiative in the U.S. He presented the points and the principles. The details will have to be decided upon here in Israel. But it would be important to present them -in the format he presented to the U.S. Administration - before other friendly governments as well.
Q: Who will take part in this information campaign which you are planning?
A: We are not only planning, We are already putting this campaign into action. Deputy Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has left for Canada, in order to update them on the prime minister's plan. From the prime minister's entourage, Cabinet Secretary Elyakirn Rubinstein and the director-general of the prime minister's office, Yossi Ben-Aharon - have brought the Chinese Ambassador to the U.N. up to date. Foreign Ministry Director-General Reuven Merhav is setting off for Cairo tonight. Yesterday I already invited Egypt's Ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Bassiouny, for an updating. Merhav will continue this activity. And we are inviting all the ambassadors in Israel to the Foreign Ministry for a briefing.
Q: What have been the reactions to Shamir's plan? Is there a chance that the Palestinians will accept it, maybe through the influence of President Mubarak, who didn't categorically slam the door on the Shamir Plan?
A: The prime minister heard the most important reaction in Washington, and it was a positive reaction to the plan he presented. I understand that in Cairo too, this initiative is being studied and that the last word has not yet been said. And we are telling the representatives with whom we are meeting that we are convinced that if there is support for this initiative and if there is a positive response, then this initiative will be a landmark in the peace process in this region.
Q: And what to do you say to those who tell you that these are merely indirect negotiations with the PLO, with the U.S. as intermediaries?
A: Although I have sometimes heard this said in the form of questions, by Israeli journalists, I haven't yet heard this from any official representative of any other country.
Q: In other words, you categorically reject PLO participation - whether direct or indirect?
A: Absolutely.
Q: Do you expect an absolute consensus in Israel between Labor and the Likud, as well as within the Likud? Could there not be reservations to the plan presented by the prime minister?
A: When you talk of absolute consensus, do you mean 100% support? We could seemingly hope for such support, but I believe that it would be impossible to expect such a thing.
Q: The Tehiya faction has demanded an urgent Knesset discussion regarding its reservations about the Shamir Plan.
A: I do believe that the prime minister's initiative will have wide backing.
Q: Both from Labor as well as from the Likud?
A: Both from Labor as well as from the Likud.
Q: In other words this will indeed be the plan of Israel's Government, supported by both major parties?
A: Of course.