WASHINGTON: Dr Henry Kissinger blames Israel’s inflexibility for the failure of his Middle East peace mission, journalists who accompanied the US Secretary of State said here today [March 24]. According to high-ranking American officials, Dr Kissinger told President Ford on his return … that the risk of war in the Middle East cannot be ruled out. …

Coinciding with the deadlock, authoritative sources in Beirut reported the first Israeli provocation, saying the Lebanese army intercepted an Israeli patrol which entered southern Lebanon yesterday. As a grave Dr Kissinger reported the failure of his M-E mission to an equally grave President Ford Egypt warned against the possibility of renewed war because of Israeli intransigence. …

Cairo newspapers … cautioned against an Israeli attack. The influential “Al-Ahram” said … that the situation was now extremely grave and required maximum alertness. … Dr Kissinger returned to Washington … saying the United States remained ready to work with the parties to the conflict and other interested countries in a search for justice and peace in the region. Dr. Kissinger was welcomed by President Ford as his helicopter landed on the White House lawn. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2025