The two leaders held a working session during which Mr. Rabin briefed his
guest on the peace process and other regional developments. Although
Britain was not one of the co-sponsors of the peace process, its long
standing role in the Middle East and its special ties with the Arab world,
rendered its position that much more valuable. The discussion focussed
also on bilateral ties and how to improve the Israel-Britain balance of
trade. Text:
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin met yesterday (Sunday), 12 3.95, with British
Prime Minister John Major for a working meeting. Mr. Rabin briefed Mr.
Major on the political process and said that the easiest two problems had
already been resolved - the achievement of an agreement with the
Palestinians and its implementation in Gaza and Jericho and the peace
treaty with Jordan. Note, he said, Israel faces two more difficult
problems: implementing the DOP in Judea and Samaria and reaching an
agreement with Syria.
Mr. Rabin said that terrorism is the most difficult problem facing
Israel, noting with satisfaction the agreement between Britain and Ireland
on an end to terror. He pointed to Iran as being responsible for funding
and building the infrastructure for terrorism in the Middle East and
around the world.
Turning to the economic sphere, Mr. Rabin said that "the issue which can,
more than any other, promote peace in the Middle East is economic
development." He encouraged Britain to continue writing off Jordan's
debts, as it has in the past - and to provide economic aid to the
Palestinian Authority, so that the peace dividend can be felt in the
streets of both Jordan and Gaza. Mr. Rabin also asked Mr. Major to improve
the Israel-Britain balance of trade, currently tilted against Israel in
the amount of $800 million.
Mr. Major said that he is also concerned about terrorism, saying that
"I am concerned about terrorism, because of both you and us. There have
been proposals to ease sanctions on Iraq, but we oppose this until Baghdad
complies with all Security Council resolutions."
After their working meeting, the two men met with a group of British
industrialists and businessmen accompanying Mr. Major on his visit, a
group that Mr. Major called the most respectable to be found in
Britain.