1.
GV AND SV Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Menachem Begin arrives at rally for Tel Aviv Mayor Mr. Schlomo Lahat as crowd applauds (four shots)
0.22

2.
SCU Mr. Begin speaking in Hebrew (2 shots)
0.42

3.
SV Police in crowd PULL BACK TO GV
0.46

4.
SV Signpost - Karnai Shemron
0.50

5.
SV PULL BACK TO GV PAN West Bank Area
1.00

6.
SV Soldiers putting up barbed wire fences (three shots)
1.12

7.
GV Road with barrier TILT UP TO Israeli flag
1.20

8.
GV Bulldozers moving earth (2 shots)
1.42

9.
GV PAN Huts
1.50

10.
SV Mechanical shovel digging trench for pipeline (2 shots)
2.02



Initials AH/2400


TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Egypt has threatened to withdraw its chief negotiator from the Washington talks with Israel, if what were termed 'any negative proposals obstructing the peace process' are made by Israel.

SYNOPSIS: The report came after an announcement by the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Menachem Begin, that settlements on the Israeli occupied West Bank would be reinforced with more settlers. He re-iterated the Israeli intention at a rally in Tel Aviv on Thursday (26 October) for the Mayor of Tel Aviv, Mr. Schlomo Lahat, and the Likud Party Municipal Group. He told cheering supporters at a sports stadium that he had told President Carter at the Camp David Summit that the Jewish people had an inalienable right to settle in what he called the entire land of Israel.

Extremists from his own party who heckled him were ejected.

Even as Mr. Begin first announced the expansion of the settlements, work at the Karnai Shemron settlement on the West Bank was going ahead. The original Camp David accords centred on a withdrawal from the Sinai, and the issue of Israeli withdrawal from other occupied territories like Gaza and the West Bank remained a point of difference.

The announcement brought sharp rebukes from the United States. There, Government spokesmen feared that Israel's decision would put a strain on the talks which were aimed at consolidating the Camp David accords and leading to a Peace Treaty. The American Secretary of State, Mr. Cyrus Vance, said the Israeli decision concerning the West Bank was very serious and the United States was deeply disturbed by it. President Carter had also sent a personal message expressing his concern to Mr. Begin, but work continued.

Israeli Government sources expressed surprise at the reaction saying that while there were to be no new settlements, there was no ban on developing existing ones.