331. Editorial Note
Speaking to a conference of Jewish-American reporters in Jerusalem on January 18, 1980, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin stated that the Egyptian delegation to the Palestinian autonomy negotiations had attempted to “distort the Camp David accords” with its proposals for Palestinian self-rule. The Prime Minister called for a new tripartite summit to address the issue. “If President Carter will ask for a three-day summit to discuss matters of autonomy, Israel will go along with it,” Begin stated. (“Begin Raps Egypt, Suggests U.S. Convene New Summit,” Los Angeles Times, January 18, 1980, page A2)
Specifically, Begin’s criticisms were prompted by a deadlock over the specific powers and responsibilities to be accorded a Palestinian administrative council, as the Egyptian and Israeli delegations had rejected each other’s proposals. A verbatim transcript of the January 16 morning session of the Egyptian-Israeli-U.S. working group meeting on the powers and responsibilities of the autonomy committee, held at Mena House in Cairo, at which Egypt rejected the Israeli draft proposal, is in the Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Trips/Visits File, Box 116, 1/25/80–2/2/80 Linowitz Trip to the Middle East: 1/80.