Yet to hear from India on Phalcon deal: Peres

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, AUG. 25. Israel has an open mind on selling the Phalcon early warning aircraft, but has not yet been approached by India for their transfer, Israel's former Prime Minister, Mr. Shimon Peres has said.

At a press conference here this morning, Mr. Peres, who is here to brief Indian leaders about Israel's perception of the West Asian peace process, said the transfers of the Phalcon to India could not be barred on any political considerations.

The possibility of the Phalcon deal with India arose on account of Israel's decision not to sell the planes to China. According to Mr. Peres, the deal with Beijing was scuttled because of U.S. concerns about Taiwan. But considerations about Taiwan did not apply to India and Israel's decision on the Phalcons would not be determined by the United States, he said.

He, however, clarified that India and Israel had not begun any negotiations on the Phalcon. ``No negotiations have started. It is too early to judge and we have not yet been approached.'' Israel was ready to cooperate with India in all areas outside the nuclear domain. Nuclear cooperation between was not on the agenda, he clarified.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian leadership are unlikely to be impeded by the proposed unilateral declaration of Palestinian independence by mid-September, Mr. Peres said. ``There is nothing holy about the September 13 deadline'', he said, adding that the Palestinian leader, Mr. Yasser Arafat, had publicly hinted that he may not carry out the threat. The ultimatum of unilateral statehood lacked substance as its implementation on the ground was inconceivable, the Israeli leader said.

Asked to comment on the stance adopted by India on the September 13 deadline, Mr. Peres who met the Prime Minister yesterday indicated that his parleys with Mr. Vajpayee went far beyond the Palestinian ultimatum.

The Israeli Minister said progress on the peace process depended on the resolution of two key issues: the status of the walled city portion of Jerusalem and the rehabilitation of Palestinian refugees. All other aspects, including territorial alignments, security framework and future economic relations between Israel and an independent Palestinian state had been already worked out.

Mr. Peres, responding to questions, underplayed the significance of reports about the internal resistance in Israel and Palestine to the evolving peace deal. Experience showed that public mood was capable of swinging in diametrically opposite directions before major peace agreements were signed. ``The Sinai deal is a classic example'', Mr. Peres said adding that resistance to Israel's decision to hand over the captured Sinai peninsula to Egypt in order to strike a peace deal with Cairo in the past ultimately gave way to popular support.

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