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Begin apparently did not ease U.S. worries about his inflexibility on autonomy issues. Before his arrival in Washington, a State Department official warned that "we will not send a high-level envoy [to the autonomy talks] unless Begin makes us feel it is worthwhile." After the summit talks ended, Haig announced that the U.S. will be represented only by its ambassadors to Israel and Egypt at the first new round of the negotiations. He said the U.S. might elevate its representation if there is progress on the unresolved procedural issues.
As Begin's trip neared its end, he continued a persistent, gentle pressure to get Reagan to visit Jerusalem. Said Begin in a pointed farewell: "I do not say goodbye, Mr. President. I say next time, au revoir in Jerusalem." Reagan did not commit himself. Like all but a handful of the nations that still recognize Israel, the U.S. maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv. A presidential visit to Jerusalem might put Reagan in the position of appearing to accept Israeli sovereignty over the entire Holy City. And that would win the President few friends elsewhere in the ever troubled Middle East.— By Ed Magnuson. Reported by David Aikman with Begin and Roberto Suro/Washington