Israeli Premier Menachem Begin ended his four-day stay in Washington today with the now that the Jewish people will never allow Jerusalem to leave Israel’s sovereignty and a warming to the nations of the free world not to sacrifice Israel’s security because of oil shortages or other difficulties they may force at present.
In an emotional address to more than 1000 people Jammed into the 600-seat auditorium of the Shoreham Hotel, Begin repeated his positions on Jerusalem, Jewish settlements on the West Bank and Israel’s unqualified opposition to “self-determination” for the Palestinian Arabs which, he said, “is a contradiction of the Camp David agreement. “He likened actions in support of self-determination to the appeasement of Nazi demands on Czechoslovakia in 1938.
Begin spoke at a combined meeting sponsored by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Israel Bond Organization and the United Jewish Appeal. He was greeted with deafening applause and applause punctuated his hour-long speech many times. The meeting was described by some observers as the greatest pro-Israel demonstration in Washington, probably since David Ben Gurion’s first visit here 32 years ago as Prime Minister of Israel.
Begin decisively ruled out participation by the inhabitants of East Jerusalem in the vote for the autonomous authority on the West Bank. “Israel is — east, west, north and south — under one sovereignty, the sovereignty of Israel, “he declared. “Jerusalem is the heart of our people, our history, our culture, our dreams and prayers. So it will be for all generations to come, so help us God, “he said. He added that “without any qualification, the world should know, oil nations should know that this issue — Jerusalem — is D.C. — David’s Capital.”
AUTONOMY, NOT A PALESTINIAN STATE
Begin said that at Camp David “we promised autonomy but not a Palestinian state in all but name. “He recalled that in 1938, Germany demanded “self determination” for Germans in Czechoslovakia and “we know what took place.” He said current calls for “self-determination” for Palestinian Arabs and the 1938 episode are “a dreadful analogy. We cannot play around with phrases.” He said that at Camp David he was asked to give — “but we refused to give our signature to ‘self-determination’.”
He implied criticism of the Western nations for not standing together in face of Soviet aggression. He said that because of events in Afghanistan and in Iran, some nations perceive their need for oil and for the support of the Moslem world and make demands on Israel to “give in. “He said whatever their difficulties they must not make demands “at the expense of Israel. “He did not name any nation.
WILL RECOMMEND BOYCOTT OF OLYMPICS
Begin said the Soviet Union supports the Palestine Liberation Organization and the PLO’s “genocidal methods. “He said “The PLO charter is the second edition of Mein Kampf.” He observed that “when liberty is endangered oil free men must unite. “He also said that he will recommend to the Israel Olympic Committee that Israel boycott the Olympic Games in Moscow this summer To go to Moscow, he said, would be “business as usual.”
Shortly before the meeting opened, the White House issued a statement on Begin’s talks with President Carter on autonomy which ended yesterday. It announced that Egypt, Israel and the U.S. have agreed to meet “for accelerated negotiations in both Israel and Egypt, beginning before the end of April in Herzliya. “The proposal had been made by Begin for meetings during the next 40 days, alternating between Herzliya and Alexandria, in an attempt to reach an agreement on autonomy by the May 26 target date.
In a related development, U.S. officials informed reporter today that a “continuing committee” would be organized by the parties to the autonomy talks to handle certain aspects of autonomy which remained outstanding after a general agreement was reached. Such a committee is mentioned in the Camp David accords to deal with refugee problems and other matters. Its composition and scope will be among the first items of business when the American, Israeli and Egyptian negotiators convene at Herzliya later this month.
American sources indicated that the committee would have extensive authority over major aspects of autonomy except water resources. It appeared that difficulties will ensue, however, over what issues the negotiators will agree to transfer to the committee. Israeli sources here said the committee would be allowed to handle only minor matters.
Begin told Israeli reporters earlier today that it would be erroneous to regard the agreement on the continuing committee as a breakthrough and that in any event it would not function before agreement is reached on autonomy.
He indicated that the committee, for example, might discuss finding new water resources rather than the division of existing water rights. He said Israel was agreeable to the U.S. proposal that some issues affecting the daily lives of Palestinian Arabs such as water rights, Jewish settlements and land title could be taken up after an overall agreement on autonomy is reached.
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.
