A new peace agreement between Israel and Egypt seemed near on Friday (August 22) as United States Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger left Israel for Alexandria, Egypt, with the latest proposals.

After the five hours meeting in Jerusalem between Dr. Kissinger's team and Israeli leaders, Foreign Minister Yigal Allon remarked that he left more hopeful about the outcome of the peace mission. But he added "It is still too early to say."
Dr. Kissinger -- who was flown by helicopter from Jerusalem to the Ben Gurion international airport to avoid right-wing Israeli demonstrators -- also said he was hopeful of reaching an agreement.

The new agreement includes commitments by both sides not to use, or threaten to use force. Israel is believed to have offered to make substantial withdrawals in Sinai in return for political and economic concessions by Egypt.

Informed sources have also said the United States and Israel are contemplating a written agreement on possible American help if Israel is attacked by the Soviet Union. Dr. Kissinger ordered a worldwide U.S. nuclear alert in October 1973 in response to the possibility of a Soviet threat to send troops to the Middle East.