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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, February 20, 1981
standing force under the auspices of the United Nations to make every
party secure, both Arabs and Israelis," he said. EEC countries might
also provide regional economic aid and political guarantees for the bor
ders still to be agreed, he added.
Mr. Sadat said that as part of the Camp David negotiations, it had been
agreed to try to form an international force to take over from Israeli
troops in the Sinai. But he said the Soviet Union had previously said
they might veto such a move in the UN Security Council. Although Pres
ident Sadat did not say so directly, suggested a Reuters news dispatch,
he appeared to be suggesting that West European participation in a
peace-keeping force might discourage the Soviet Union from blocking it.
Why did Sadat decide to play the "European card," widely interpreted as
a diplomatic ploy? Simply this. President Carter, the architect of the
Camp David agreement is now out of office and Mr. Reagan is perceived as
being more closely allied to Israel's point of view and may even be "soft"
on the issue of Israeli settlements on the West Bank.
Then, too, Sadat's cosignatory of the Camp David agreement, Menachim
Begin, is not expected to win reelection in June. Thus, Sadat, already
isolated from the rest of the Arab world, could be left yet more isolated.
As for the Camp David agreement itself, it's been hung up for half a year
over how to proceed toward autonomy for the Palestinian-populated,
Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The Common Market nations at their summit in Venice in June, 1980, tenu
ously floated their own Mideast initiative tilted toward the Palestinian
side, even calling for PLO participation in regional peace talks. France,
always cool toward Camp David, led the way.
The European initiative did not make much headway. But now, with the
possible collapse of the Camp David accords, Sadat decided to take his
case to Common Market Europe, speaking to its recently amplified parlia
ment, as well as conferring with French President d'Estaing.
Sadat was well received in both places. In Luxembourg, Sadat, reports
UPI,"received a standing ovation as he entered the Parliament's assembly
hall, [and] was repeatedly interrupted by enthusiastic applause, particu
larly whenever he called on the Europeans to help in the search for peace."
Sadat was critical over Israel's exclusive control over Jerusalem, pro
claimed by the Israeli parliament last year. He lauded the tradition
of keeping Jerusalem open to all faithful, regardless of creed or na
tionality, and said "I hereby urge you to join with us in a determined
effort to achieve such a goal."
--Gene H. Hogberg, News Bureau
Shortly after the above summary was submitted to the Pastor General's
Report, the following lengthy analysis on Europe's Mideast peace . initia
tive moved across our Reuter's wire in the News Bureau. I felt it was
such a good background piece on this rapidly developing story that it
should be published here at some length.
--G.H.H.
London, Feb. 19, Reuter:
"The European initiative for peace in the Middle East is gathering pace
with a growing schedule of contacts--Setween leaders of�he Common Market
and the Arab world.