ISRAELI PAPER SAYS MIDEAST INITIATIVE HAS PASSED TO MOSCOW

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-157-6-1-0
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: July 30, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 21, 1975
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/07/30: LOC-HAK-157-6-1-0
FMS 65 (SEE . 35) ".A.5 I
ISRAELI PAPER SAYS MIDEAST INITIAT/IVE HAS PASSED TO MOSCOW,,
TA21 1 154 TEL AVIV MA'ARIV IN HEBREW"21 APR 75 P 5 TA
(EDITORIAL: "THE INITIATIVE HAS PASSED TO MOSCOW")
5,-3
(TEXT) THE INITIATIVE IN FINDING A SETTLEMENT IN THE MIDDLE
EAST HAS PASSED FROM THE AMERICANS TO THE RUSSIANS. AT A TIME
WHEN WASHINGTON IS INVOLVED IN A PERIOD OF A TOTALLY PASSIVE
"REASSESSMENT" OF ITS POLICY TOWARD OUR REGION, MOSCOW IS DISPLAYING
UNCEASING- ACTIVITY.
IT IS NOW THE CENTER TO WHICH PILGRIMAGES ARE MADE; IT IS THE
ONE' WHICH DETERMINES THE DATE AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE CONVOCATION
OF TH;E. GENEVA CONFERENCE; IT IS THE ONE WHICH DECIDES WHO WILL
BE INVITED TO~ THE CONFERENCE AND WHO WILL NOT. ACCORDING TO ALL
SIGNS, THE SOVIET UNION DOES NOT WANT A HASTY CONFERENCE WHICH WILL
END IN F,~p I,LURE; IT SEES THE NEED TO PREPARE ALL MOVES CAREFULLY
TO INSURE RESULTS WHERE THE U.S. EFFORTS HAVE PRODUCED A DEADLOCK.
THIS IS THE BIG CHANCE WHICH THE SOVIET POLICY MAKERS HAVE BEEN
WAITING FOR, AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO WASTE IT.
THEY, OF COURSE, KNOW THAT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE MAKES NO
SESNSE WITHOUT AN ISRAELI READINESS TO TAKE PART AND COOPERATE IN
IT. IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT THE SOVIET UNION IS NOW STRESSING
ITS SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL'S EXISTENCE, AND THE NEED TO INSURE A PLACE
FOR ISRAE1. AMONG THE NATIONS OF THE REGION. IT IS EXPECTED THAT
THERE WILL BE FURTHER SOVIET FEELERS REGARDING ISRAEL'S INTENTIONS
AND SOME FORM OF ISRAELI-SOVIET DIALOG. WITHOUT THIS THERE IS
NOT MUCH PROSPECT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE SOVIET EFFORT TO PLAY AN
ACTIVE ROLE IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF A SETTLEMENT.
.THE PRINCIPAL OBSTACLE--AND THE SOVIETS ARE NOT IGNORING IT--IS
EGYPT'S DEMAND TO INCLUDE A PLO DELEGATION I N THE CONFERENCE.
AS LONG AS ISRAEL'S DECISION NOT TO NEGOTIATE WITH REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRORISTS STANDS, ALL THAT IS
NEEDED TO TORPEDO THE CONFERENCE IN ADVANCE IS TO GRANT STATUS
TO THE PLO.
IT IS ASSUMED, THEREFORE, THAT THE SOVIETS WILL CONCENTRATE
THEIR EFFORTS IN THE FUTURE ON FINDING A FORMULA THAT WILL SATISFY
BOTH THE ARAB STATES AND ISRAEL ON THIS FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE. IF
THE SOVIET, UNION IS NOT PRESSING FOR A QUICK CONVOCATION OF THE
CONFERENCE AND IF THE DATE BEING MENTIONED NOW IS IN ANOTHER TWO
MONTHS, THE REASON IS THAT TIME IS REQUIRED TO SOLVE THIS COMPLEX
PROBLEM.
AT A TIME WHEN MOSCIW IS BECOMING THE FOCUS OF MIDDLE EAST ACTIVITY,
ISRAELI EFFORTS ARE STILL BEING DIRECTED TOWARD WASHINGTON BECAUSE
OF INERTIA AND PERHAPS ALSO BECAUSE OF HOPE THAT IT IS STILL POSSIBLE
TO TURN THE CLOCK BACK.
HHOWF.VEf IT SEEMS THAT LISTENING TO THE VOICES COMING FROM MOSCOW
IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN ATTEMPTING TO REVIVE THE U.S. INITIATIVE,
WHOSE CHANCES OF S
UCCESS ARE VERY SMALL.
2.1 APR 14132 JTC/CAJ
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/07/30: LOC-HAK-157-6-1-0