Of Linkage and Leakage

After the semiofficial Cairo newspaper al Ahram published what it described as the projected peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, the U.S. State Department released the full text. A summary:

THE PREAMBLE. The two sides 1) recognize the Camp David accords as a framework for peace "not only between Egypt and Israel, but also between Israel and each of its other Arab neighbors," and 2) hail the treaty as "an important step in the search for comprehensive peace in the area and for the attainment of the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in all its aspects." So much for "linkage"; there is no timetable that relates the beginning of wider negotiations over the West Bank and Gaza to the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli treaty. But the two sides declare that the treaty should be considered as a step toward a comprehensive peace settlement.

ARTICLE I. The state of war between the two nations will end; Israel will withdraw from the Sinai; and the two will establish "normal and friendly" relations.

ARTICLE II. The boundary between Egypt and Israel will be the same as the old, pre-1948 border between Egypt and Palestine; the Gaza Strip, which the Israelis have held only since 1967, will remain under Israeli control.

ARTICLE III. Egypt and Israel will recognize each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and "the right to live in peace." They agree to refrain from "threats of hostility, subversion or violence."

ARTICLE IV. They also agree to the presence of U.N. peace-keeping forces in certain areas.

ARTICLE V. Israeli vessels will have the right to use the Suez Canal; the Straits of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba will be recognized as international waterways.

ARTICLE VI. In the event of a conflict between this treaty and treaties previously made by Egypt or Israel, this document will have precedence.

ARTICLE VII. Disputes concerning the treaty will be settled by negotiation or arbitration.

ARTICLE VIII. A special committee will be set up to deal with "the mutual settlement of all financial claims."

ARTICLE IX. The treaty will become effective as soon as the instruments of ratification have been exchanged.

An appendix. Annex III, describes future relations between the two countries. Still to be announced (or leaked): letters and annexes detailing such matters as the construction of the new airbases, the role of the U.N. forces and the knottiest problem of all: linkage.

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