Word: hassan
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...There is no shame in discussing things with one's enemies." So said Morocco's King Hassan II three months ago. Last week he lived up to those words by meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres. The talks in the Moroccan resort of Ifrane produced little except what one participant described as a promise to "remain in contact." But the fact that the meeting was held at all merits at least a mention in the tortured history of Israel's relations with the Arab world...
...opening a dialogue with Israel, Hassan won the praise of the Reagan Administration. He may also have prevented a cutback in the $140 million in aid that Morocco receives from the U.S. Congressional leaders had been unhappy with Hassan ever since he signed a largely meaningless "treaty of union" with Libya in August...
...same time, however, Hassan enraged the more radical Arab states. Syria broke off diplomatic relations. In West Beirut, 2,000 members of Hizballah, a militant Shi'ite Muslim faction, stormed the Moroccan embassy, routed its staff and caused extensive damage...
...Hassan-Peres meeting started to take shape months ago, after the King dropped hints that he was ready to meet with Peres to see if the Israeli leader had any new peace proposals. Movement on general Arab-Israeli talks sputtered to a halt in February, when King Hussein's attempts to launch negotiations involving Israel, Jordan and the Palestine Liberation Organization broke down. Peres entered into tentative contacts, relying on emissaries like Moroccan-born Rafael Edri, chairman of the Labor Party faction in the Knesset...
Throughout, preparations for the Hassan-Peres meeting were kept secret. Last Monday afternoon Peres left Israel in an unmarked Israeli air force Boeing 707, accompanied only by a handful of aides, an Israeli television crew and two reporters. After landing in Fez, Peres was driven up winding mountain roads to the official guest house, close to the King's granite palace retreat 125 miles from Rabat and 4,400 ft. high in the Middle Atlas range. The Israeli party was finishing dinner when the King drove over in his own car and welcomed his guests. The two leaders greeted each...