Carter Sees Arab Mood Shift, Urges Flexible Israeli Policy

Former President Jimmy Carter urged Israeli leaders Friday to respond with “flexibility and generosity” to what he called a new receptive mood in the Arab world.

He said Syrian President Hafez Assad told him this week that “he would be very glad to talk directly to Israel under the umbrella of an international conference.”

“The actual negotiations would certainly be bilateral in nature, and I think this is a very good indication that even Arab leaders who, in the past, have pledged their eternal hatred for Israel and total rejection of Israel are now in a much more receptive mood,” Carter told reporters who accompanied him on a visit to Israel’s Negev desert.

“My hope is that the Israeli leaders will respond accordingly . . . and that the peace talks can be recommenced,” he added.

Five-Nation Tour

Carter has acknowledged that the Middle East conflict was an “obsession” during his years in the presidency. On his five-nation tour, he has tried to boost the cause of peace, which has been stalemated since he brokered the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.

On his present tour, the former president has visited Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Algeria, and he briefed Israeli leaders on what he learned on his stops there.

Israel and the Arab countries disagree on how to proceed toward peace negotiations.

Most Arab states want to begin talks with an international conference that would include participation by the Soviet Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Israel’s national unity coalition government is split on the issue. Conservative Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir opposes an international conference while Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, head of the Labor Alignment, is trying to organize one.

Talks With Leaders

Peres’ peace efforts took a step forward Thursday when he held unprecedented official talks with three Palestinian leaders known for their support of the PLO: Gaza lawyer Faez Abu Rahme, Al Fajr newspaper editor Hanna Siniora and West Bank lecturer Sari Nusseihbeh.

Carter favors PLO participation in peace talks with Israel, and his statements to that effect earlier during his present tour were warmly greeted by Palestinians here.