Dr. Mohammed T. Mehdi, secretary-general of the so-called “Action Committee on American-Arab Relations, ” an Iraqi citizen, today drew a sharp rebuff when he sought to intervene in the American election campaign in an attempt to pressure Sen; Kenneth B. Keating, New York Republican, into adopting a pro-Arab stand.
Dr. Mehdi had threatened to picket the Senator’s offices and “expose” him as “a captive instrument in the hands of Zionist pressure groups. ” He also threatened to bring the Senator’s “political defeat” in the November elections.
“Despite your objection to the extremism of Goldwater and lofty reference to your conscience, in your continuous attack on the Arabs in favor of Israel, you show both extremism, as well as disrespect for the feelings of 80 percent of your constituency, ” Dr. Mehdi stated in a telegram to Sen, Keating. “If there were two million Arabs in New York, instead of two million Zionist Jews, you would be blasting Israel and praising the Arabs. Your present activities on behalf of Israel, which is for the purpose of receiving the Jewish vote, reflect your disrespect for the feelings and position of the overwhelming majority of the people of New York,” the telegram of the Iraqi said;
Sen, Keating replied: “Since you are not an American citizen yourself, I question your qualifications to speak for the citizens of New York or of any other state on this issue. Furthermore, it would seem inappropriate for you, as an Iraqi citizen, to take any part whatsoever in a United States election. As to picketing of me by your committee, I am not familiar with its activities and would appreciate having a report from you on its membership and finances, and an indication as to whether it is appropriately registered under the terms of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
