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Moynihan Raps U.S. Pressure on Israel

October 20, 1976
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New York Democratic Party candidate for U.S. Senate, Daniel P. Moynihan, addressing the 31st Annual Weizmann Institute Dinner at the New York Hilton Hotel last night, told the more than 1500 guests that he rejects the view “that the U.S. should be ‘even-handed’ as between the democratic nations and their anti-democratic enemies. I want the U.S. to side with democracies, not to be neutral in its relations with them.”

Declaring that to defend Israel is “to defend liberty and democracy,” the former U.S. Ambassador to the UN charged that American foreign policy since the Yom Kippur War has placed “one-sided pressures” on Israel. He said he will fight against such a policy.

The only basis for peace in the Mideast. Moynihan said, is Security Council Resolution 242, noting that it does not call for unilateral territorial concessions on the part of Israel but “for a return of occupied territories only in exchange for recognition of Israel’s existence by the Arabs and its right to exist within secure borders.” He added that the borders of 1967 were not secure for Israel.

The guest of honor of last night’s dinner was Edgar M. Bronfman, chairman and chief executive officer of the Seagram Company. He was presented with the Weizmann Medallion which is awarded annually for distinguished service to science. Israel and the Jewish people. Also addressing the gathering, which included Jewish leaders, leading educators and members of the scientific community, was Prof. Michael Sela, president of the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot.

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