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Anderson Issues His Platform

September 2, 1980
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Rep. John Anderson (R.III.), in a platform issued for his independent campaign for the Presidency, said the future of Israeli settlements on the West Bank and of East Jerusalem must be decided by negotiations. But he said once a final settlement was reached, the United States should move its embassy to Jerusalem.

The platform was issued by Anderson and his running mate, former Wisconsin Gov. Patrick Lucey, for their “national unity campaign.” The platform stressed that on “urgent objective” of an Anderson Administration will be peace in the Middle East.

“A lasting settlement must encompass the principles affirmed in the Camp David accords,” the statement said, “Our Administration will support the recognition of Palestinian rights as embodied in the Camp David accords, but will oppose the creation of a Palestinian state between Israel and Jordan.

“The United States will not recognize or negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organization unless that organization repudiates terrorism, explicitly recognizes Israel’s right to exist and accepts UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 unchanged.

“The question of Israeli settlements on the West Bank and the final status of East Jerusalem must be decided by negotiations. The United States will support free and unimpeded access to Jerusalem’s holy places by people of all faiths. Jerusalem should remain an open and undivided city. At the conclusion of the peace-making process and as a final act of settlement, we will recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. embassy there.”

ISSUE OF SOVIET JEWRY

In a separate statement, Anderson expressed dismay over the renewed oppression of Soviet Jewry and said such oppression “must not go unchallenged by the United States …. I believe that the United States must make clear to the Soviet Union that resumed growth of trade will be dependent upon practices by the Soviet government which are consistent with recognized standards of human rights, especially the treatment of Soviet Jews seeking to emigrate.”

Anderson underscored this point by stating that the U.S. “must not be silent now, while innocent refusniks are being tried for ‘parasitism’ and while former Prisoners of Conscience are still being harassed and refused visas.”

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