Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume IX, Arab-Israeli Dispute, August 1978–December 1980, Second, Revised Edition

89. Memorandum for the Record¹

Washington, October 17, 1978, 3:50–5:10 p.m.

SUBJECT

• Summary of the President’s Meeting with the Egyptian Delegation, October 17, 1978, 3:50–5:10 p.m., Oval Office

1. Minister Hassan Ali indicated that agreement had been reached on the main zones on Sinai. He noted that there was some disagreement over including surface-to-air missiles that are integral parts of the Egyptian division that will be in Sinai. He added that the Egyptians should be allowed to have four battalions of frontier forces in the buffer zone, and the President agreed that this had been decided at Camp David.

2. Boutros Ghali stressed the importance of establishing some correlation between the Egyptian-Israeli treaty and the progress in the West Bank-Gaza talks. In his discussions with Dayan, they had reached agreement that reference could be made to the comprehensive agreement in the preamble and that there could be an exchange of letters which would be published. This would demonstrate to the Arab world that Egypt is still involved in the Palestinian question. He had also discussed with the Israelis the question of establishing diplomatic relations in phases. Dayan had shown some flexibility at first, but had then taken a more negative position. The Israelis insist on including the word “immediate” after mentioning the establishment of diplomatic relations, and in response, the Egyptians have suggested the word “gradual.”

3. Al-Baz said that Egypt is thinking of establishing diplomatic relations over a period of six months after the interim withdrawal. First there would be an announcement of diplomatic recognition, then the establishment of an embassy headed by a charge, and finally the accreditation of an ambassador. The President said that he had discussed this in detail with President Sadat at Camp David, and that he was disappointed to see that the Egyptians now want to delay the exchange of ambassadors. He had understood that this would take place at the time of the completion of the interim withdrawal. The President expressed some disappointment with the Egyptian attitude, stating they were less forthcoming than was expected in the Camp David agreements, whereas the Israelis had been more so.

4. Concerning the question of linkage, the President said that he thought our answers² to King Hussein would help to clarify our own views on this. He told Ambassador Atherton to give a copy of the answers to the Egyptian delegation.³ There was some discussion of the question of priority of obligations, the arrangements for a U.N. force, free passage in the Strait of Tiran, and other minor problems. Concerning the question of Gaza, the President expressed his view that it should be mentioned in the text that the final status of Gaza was not decided by the establishment of the border between Egypt and Israel.

5. Finally, the President indicated that he would like to be able to come to the Middle East in the near future, and that his own schedule would permit a visit in late October or early November.

1. Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Subject File, Box 36, Serial Xs—(9/78–12/78). Secret. The meeting took place in the Oval Office.
2. See footnote 4, Document 91.
3. Ibid.