Premier Golda Meir said today that the Israeli government could not and should not intervene in the internal dispute in the United States over the Jackson Amendment. Addressing Hebrew University students here, Mrs. Meir had lavish praise for both President Nixon, who insists that “quiet diplomacy” is the best approach to the Soviet Union over Jewish emigration, and Sen. Henry M. Jackson, the Washington Democrat, whose measure would deny U.S. trade concessions to Russia as long as it restricted emigration.
Mrs. Meir was obviously weighing her words carefully as she spoke. She said she was happy over the large number of American Congressmen who support the Jackson Amendment in the Senate and an identical measure in the House introduced by Charles A. Vanik (D.Ohio) and Wilbur Mills (D.Ark.). She described Jackson as a sincere friend of Israel and of the Jewish people.
She also noted that Nixon spoke on behalf of Soviet Jewry during his summit meeting in Moscow last May and was continuing his efforts on their behalf. She said the relaxation of the Soviet education tax was brought about mainly through the President’s efforts. But she observed that the tax was only symptomatic of a deeper malaise.
The Jackson Amendment is understood to have been discussed at a Cabinet meeting yesterday which heard reports from Mrs. Meir and Foreign Minister Abba Eban on developments concerning Soviet Jews. The refusal of Cabinet Secretary Michael Arnon to divulge any information was seen as a further indication of Israel’s efforts to maintain a low profile as two of its best friends, Nixon and Jackson, differ over an issue that is very close to Israel.
A weekend meeting between top ministers and Jewish Agency leaders reportedly resolved that Israel would refrain from adopting a position or trying to pressure U.S. public opinion on the Jackson Amendment issue.
Mrs. Meir today rejected charges by some Soviet emigre groups here that her government was not doing enough to aid Russian Jews. Responding to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s bellicose May Day speech in Cairo, the Premier said she hoped for the sake of Egyptian soldiers and people that Sadat does not implement his threat to make war on Israel. She said there was no doubt of the outcome if Egypt resumed hostilities and pitied the fate of the young Egyptians sent into battle.
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.
