Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz and a delegation of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations held separate meetings at the State Department today with Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger on the eve of his departure to the Middle East to reconcile the remaining differences between Israel and Egypt in the negotiations for a second-stage Sinai agreement.
Dinitz and Rabbi Israel Miller, chairman of the Presidents Conference, rejected in their separate comments to reporters, the suggestion that the U.S. is forcing Israel into an agreement with Egypt. “Israel is not unduly pressured to do anything which Israel doesn’t want to do.” Dinitz said after he emerged from his talks with Kissinger. “Whatever Israel does, it does because it considers it in its best interest to do.”
Dinitz was believed to have discussed with Kissinger one of the last remaining problems involved in the interim agreement: who will man the Israeli listening post at Umm Hasheiba west of the Gidi Pass?
Rabbi Miller, speaking after the Presidents Conference had met for 90 minutes with Kissinger, said that “the Secretary was quite positive in the U.S. attitude toward Israel” and “nothing is being imposed on Israel.”
ACCORD A STEP IN PROPER DIRECTION
Rabbi Miller said the Presidents Conference group had a “very frank, candid and thorough discussion of the negotiations” which he described as being in a “still very delicate and sensitive stage.” He said the Jewish leaders left the meeting with the feeling that when an Egyptian-Israeli agreement is reached it will be a step in the “proper direction,” adding that “We will support that which the government of Israel will accept.”
He said the group was not asked at the meeting to support elements of the agreement (such as sending American technicians to the Sinai) that will have to be submitted for Congressional approval. He observed that after the Administration appears before Congress on the American participation in the agreement, “we will see what is asked and what we can support.”
When a reporter asked about the attitude of the American Jewish community as a whole, Rabbi Miller sharply replied, “There is no monolith called the American Jewish community. There are those who support it (the proposed Israeli-Egyptian agreement) and some against it in some elements. My position is what the Israeli government will support, we will.”
Asked about Kissinger’s chance for success, Rabbi Miller replied that Kissinger “would not be going if he did not have a good chance.” He pointed out that there are many elements in the agreement that are “good for Israel, not the least of which is that there is an agreement” and the opportunities for Israel to test whether Egypt really wants peace.
OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN DISCUSSED
Rabbi Miller said that other issues of concern to the Jewish community were discussed with Kissinger, including the overall situation in the Mideast, Israel’s request for American military and economic aid, and “the stance of the United States toward Israel being suspended or ejected from the United Nations.”
Regarding the possible Arab-led attempt to expel Israel, Rabbi Miller said Kissinger expressed concern in “strong terms” and reported the Secretary as saying that an Egyptian-Israeli agreement would be helpful in doing away with this problem. Rabbi Miller also said that no figures were mentioned in the discussion on American aid.
Today was the first time since shortly before the breakdown of Kissinger’s negotiating efforts in March that the Presidents Conference has met with Kissinger. One of those present said the meeting indicates an improved atmosphere between Kissinger and the American Jewish leadership.
Among those present were: Max Fisher, chairman of the board of governors of the Jewish Agency; Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, president of the American Jewish Congress; Elmer Winter, president of the American Jewish Committee; David Blumberg, president of B’nai B’rith; Frank Lautenberg, general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, and Yehudah Hellman, executive director of the Presidents Conference.
URGED TO DISCUSS SYRIAN JEWRY
Meanwhile, the Committee for the Rescue of Syrian Jewry today called on Kissinger to raise the issue of Syrian Jewry during his forthcoming talks in Damascus. In a telegram to Kissinger. Abraham Dwek, the committee’s president, urged Kissinger “to appeal to the Syrian government in the name of humanity to permit our brethren to emigrate to the United States.”
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.
