Excerpts from an Interview with Prime Minister Rabin on Israel Radio

In the following interview the prime minister revealed that Palestinian Authority Chairman Arafat attempted to raise in the Cairo summit certain issues which were not on the agenda. He was not successful in his efforts. Mr. Rabin also noted the importance of the call made on Syria to prevent activities by Palestinian terrorist organizations from operating freely in the Syrian capital. Excerpts:

"I have no doubt that the fact that this meeting was held, the significance that an Arab-Israeli bloc for peace was created here, has importance which goes beyond the formal texts, which are very important. Shimon did very good work on this issue, and made a great effort to prevent issues, which the Palestinians tried to raise, from being discussed, including settlements, release of prisoners, and various other issues which should not have been raised. If you read the text of the communique regarding terrorism, I do not remember a joint announcement of this sort ever coming from Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinians and Israel. We will check its implementation, and it will therefore affect our ability to progress."

"I can say that in the quadrilateral discussion - and here I had a partner: Arafat - a demand was made of the Syrians to prevent Shaqaqi, the Palestinian terrorist organizations, the rejectionist front, and Islamic Jihad which are located in Syria, and however strange it may seem, Arafat raised the issue, that they are attacking him too, threatening his life no less than those of Israelis. And I believe the issue also entered the consciousness of the Egyptian President, who picked up the phone and called his sources to ask about Shaqaqi in Syria. I have no doubt that simply the fact that the meeting was held, that the issue of Syria's role in giving its patronage to terror, was raised - is this a security-building measure? - it is interesting, and I think everyone agreed, that the Syrians, in my opinion, must take into account that the fact that it is completely out of the question that a murderer like Shaqaqi be allowed to sit in Damascus, to make statements on television, and at the same time say: We want peace.