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Show Golda Meir says: "I believe we are CONTINUED on (he west bank "occupied Iordan" they held their first municipal elections since 1967 Also, there is an awareness in these territories that since the Israeli takeover, the standard of livin part due to the ing has improved fact that some 50,000 Arabs come each day to work in Israel, where they are paid higher wages than they were ever paid before. "All of this has not convinced them to fall in love with us," summarizes one Israeli government official. "But at least they now feel they can live with us. And in this part of the world, that is already a big change." The debate continues Of course, the eventual status of these "occupied territories has yet to be decided. And there is still a debate within Israel as to how much territory they can keep. But as the process of "normalization" continues, and as the borders remain quiet, Israelis have more and more begun to focus their attention on different namely, problems the problems among themselves. Thus, in the past tw'o years there have been an unprecedented number of and public strikes, demonstrations, scandals. A group of Oriental Jews calling themselves "The (dark-skinne- d) First municipal elections since end of Six Day War were in "occupied Jordan " this year. Mayors and councils held were chosen. Nearly 85 percent of eligible voters participated more than-useto vote in the previous Jordanian elections Black Panthers" has engaged in dozens inequalities and discrimination in Israeli society. of demonstrations, protesting lews have Religious and clashed several times (usually over the question of Sabbath observance). And virtually evry group of workers in the country has managed to find some reason to go out on strike. Indeed, as one Israeli put it, "The more we have peace with our neighbors, the more we begin to fight among ourselves." No simple job To govern such a country, at such a time, is no simple job. But for more than three years, Golda Meir, a grandmother, has been handling it if as it were as easy as duck or rather chicken soup. to Returning from take over her countrys number one job, Golda as everybody calls her has amazed both friends and critics with her bottomless energy ("Even her bodyguards can barely keep up with her," claims her closest friend). By now, her homespun manner, her simple dress and lack of makeup, and her American-accente- d speech she is a former citizen of Milwaukee have become popular trademarks. Moreover, in this tough little country where people are known for saying what they think, she has nt 12 earned a reputation as one of the straightest talkers of them all. Thus, with five years having elapsed since the Six Day War, PARADE asked Prime Minister Meir to talk with us. Following are her comments on her country, her Arab neighbors, and herself: Q. Mrs. Prime Minister, do you feel Israel and the Arabs are any closer to peace now than when the Six Day War ended, five years ago? A. Yes, I think so. I believe we are closer to peace. I don't mean to say that the Arab leaders are prepared to talk with us, and negotiate with us as yet, but I am optimistic about what has happened in the last years. Most important, I think the Arabs and especially Mr. Sadat in Egypt have come to see that they cannot destroy Israel. They know that if they would try to defeat us, the result would be exactly the same as in '67. They would lose. Of course, deep down inside I don't believe Sadat has changed his mind about what he would like to do. He would still destroy Israel if he could. He says so openly. In fact, his latest l, statements are not only but are openly and viciously anti-Israe- c. Yet, even with this talk, Sadat knows that sooner or later he must come to terms with us that he must negotiate a settlement. I would even go so far as to say that Egypt perhaps needs peace more than we do. For us, peace is a luxury that we have learned to live without; we can manage, we are developing even with our heavy defense burden. But Egypt is a country of terrible poverty, and to escape this con dition they must have peace. Indeed this is one of my reasons for optimism. I simply cannot believe that 36 million Egyptians will be content to put off development, and waste all their efforts in a futile war, just for the glory of Sadat and the Egyptian leadership. Q. In light of your optimism, I recall your once saying that you would know there is peace in the area, when Israelis could finally go shopping in Cairo. Do 3r ' - quiet on the Suez: Egyptian soldiers, entrenched in ruins of West Kanlara, where 36,000 once lived, fish in canal. Israel soldiers are dug in on east bank. All IARADT IUNF 4. (172 |