240. Letter From Egyptian Prime Minister Khalil to President Carter1
I wish to refer to your letter dated March 26, 1979,2 in which you have confirmed your previous conversation with me concerning the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
I noticed with regret that the Israeli assurances concerning the transfer of the Headquarters of the Israeli Military Government from the populated areas is confined to the City of Gaza.
I, equally, regret that the Israeli assurance that the Israeli Army will not conduct military manoeurves in the populated areas is confined to the Gaza Strip.
Since these Israeli assurances do not correspond to the understanding reached between the Egyptian and the United States Governments in this respect, I hope you would confirm to me that the aforementioned assurances be extended as well to the West Bank.
Furthermore, with regard to the issue of the retention of persons without trial in the occupied territories, I wish to point out that such practice is illegal and, therefore, all persons thus detained should be released. In this connection, I wish to inform you that Egypt believes that Israel, as the occupying power, has no right to introduce or apply Israeli laws in the occupied territories.
- Source: Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of State—1977–1980, Lot 84D241, Box 5, Middle East Peace Treaty—1979. No classification marking. Printed from a version delivered by the Egyptian Embassy in Washington.↩
- See Document 238.↩