1.
GV EXTERIOR Menachem Begin, Israeli Prime Minster, leaves plane
0.13

2.
CU Mr. Begin speaking in English
1.07

3.
CU & GV Official limousine pulls away and drives off (2 shots)
1.28


BEGIN: "Tomorrow, I shall be going to Washington at the invitation of the President, who will hold a reception for the memorialising of this momentous event in the annals of our people, namely the regaining of the independence of Israel. The President was kind enough to invite me to be at the receiving line of the guests who will participate in that reception. Tomorrow also, the President and Secretary of State (Cyrus Vance) will hold private talks with me. Thank you very much for your attention."




Initials BB/2200



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin arrived in the United States on Sunday (30 April) for a week-long visit that includes his first meeting with President Jimmy Carter since their blunt talks last month raised fears of a crisis in relations between the two countries.

SYNOPSIS: At Kennedy Airport, Mr. Begin gave no hint of what his talks would deal with, but the key issue is likely to be how to get Middle East peace talks underway again.

From the airport, Mr. Begin went to a memorial ceremony in New York to mark the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising against the Nazis in World War II. There, addressing over 7,000 people, he called for constant vigilance to protect the Jewish people and their homeland.