Israelis May Bend on Timing of Peace Talks

Israeli leaders signaled Thursday that they are seeking a compromise over the timing of the second round of Middle East peace talks. Officially, however, they stuck by a decision to attend five days later than the day Washington wants.

Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir assured reporters that Israel will “be active” in next week’s talks in Washington. And Foreign Minister David Levy was quoted as expressing hope that the issue of dates can be resolved.

The Soviet Union, meanwhile, urged Israelis and Arabs to be realistic about the date and said Moscow is willing to act as host at a third round of talks.

Soviet Foreign Ministry spokesman Vitaly N. Churkin told a Moscow briefing: “We call on all the parties in the forthcoming negotiations to show maximum realism and a constructive spirit, as it was demonstrated in Madrid.” The first round of talks started Oct. 30 in Madrid.

The Israelis on Wednesday sought a five-day postponement of the new talks, until Dec. 9, and said they want the site switched from Washington to the Middle East after a one or two sessions.

The decision was apparently made to vent Israel’s annoyance over the way Washington disregarded its views in deciding when and where to hold talks.

Israel is the only party that did not accept the Bush Administration’s invitation to the talks next Wednesday in Washington. Syria, the Palestinians, Jordan and Lebanon have all agreed to attend.

Syria accused Israel of trying to block Mideast peace efforts and said its delegation will attend whether or not the Jewish state sends negotiators.

On Thursday, Yossi Ben-Aharon, Shamir’s top political adviser, insisted that Shamir will go to Washington on “the ninth. This is the decision of the government, and we will carry it out.”

But he later told Israeli army radio that he hopes “we will arrive at some kind of compromise.”

Asked Thursday night by reporters in Jerusalem whether he foresees any gestures toward the Arabs in the talks, Prime Minister Shamir replied: “I cannot say now what we will do, but there is no doubt we will be active.”

Levy told supporters of the governing Likud bloc gathered in Herzliya that there is “no doubt about Israel’s desire to continue the political process,” Israel Radio reported.