CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS WITH BEGIN SEATED: BEGIN COMMENTING AS ABOVE: AUDIENCE LISTENING.




Initials



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Background: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER MENACHEM BEGIN HAS SAID THAT SYRIA AND IRAQ ARE PRESENTING A NEW SECURITY PROBLEM IN THE NORTH. SPEAKING AT A JEWISH WAR VETERANS CONFERENCE IN JERUSALEM ON THURSDAY HE ADDED THAT HE WOULD LIKE AN EVENTUALLY ISRAELI-EGYPTIAN PEACE TREATY TO INCLUDE A MUTUAL DEFENCE AGREEMENT SUCH AS SYRIA AND IRAQ HAVE. HE ALSO SAID THE PROBLEM OF SOVIET INFLUENCE IN IRAN WILL CAUSE NEW SECURITY PROBLEMS FOR ISRAEL AND EMPHASISED THAT ISRAEL WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DELAYS IN THE PEACE AGREEMENT WITH EGYPT.