Ambassador Dinitz Says Israel Would Welcome Increased U.S. Interest in Middle East

Israel’s new Ambassador, Simcha Dinitz, vigorously defended his nation against charges of militarism here last night, said yesterday’s commando raids on El-Fatah headquarters in Beirut were intended to teach the terrorists that they are not safe even in Arab countries, and said Israel would welcome increased American interest in the Middle East now that its military role in Vietnam has ended.

Ambassador Dinitz, who presented his credentials to President Nixon Monday, replied to questions put to him by members of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations after addressing that group at a special meeting. It was his first appearance before an American-Jewish audience since arriving in the U.S. as Israel’s Ambassador.

Dinitz defended his country’s decision to hold a military parade in Jerusalem on Independence Day marking Israel’s 25th anniversary. He said an overwhelming majority of the cabinet voted for the parade. He denied that the parade was planned to encourage tourism and said it would be “unnatural” to exclude Israel’s defense forces from the 25th anniversary celebrations devoted to marking Israel’s achievements in all areas of endeavor, Dinitz added that the parade would not create an image of Israel as a militaristic society. He noted that Israel’s Army is a civilian army, 80 percent of which is made up of reservists.

Dinitz said the commando raid on Beirut was aimed against terrorists known to be preparing new outrages. He said the results might have been accomplished by sending Israeli bombers over the Lebanese capital instead of foot soldiers, but Israel was determined not to endanger civilians.

The Israeli envoy said his government was not opposed to the U.S. interesting itself in the Middle East. “If America has more time now to devote itself to Middle East problems, so much the better,” he said. He added, however, that the proper role of the U.S. is to get the parties to the conflict together. “An accommodation in the Middle East can be reached only among the countries of the Middle East,” he said, observing that Israel “did not need to be convinced to enter direct or indirect negotiations.”