The National Press Club’s “package” agreement with the Arab League, which includes the Palestine Liberation Organization in its membership, was completed last night with an “Arab Night” extravaganza attended by some 400 persons. While the guest list was not available, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was informed by club staff members that about half the attendance was made up of members of the Arab embassies in Washington and Arab Americans.
The JTA was told that Drew von Bergen, the club’s president, had the only list and “he’s gone away for a few days. “The Arab League’s information officer, Morwan Kanafani, who identified himself as a Palestinian, told the JTA that “all the embassies” of the League’s member states in Washington were represented, except Egypt. Among those from the Carter Administration present was Paul Costello, assistant press secretary to Mrs. Rosalynn Carter.
During the night, four telephone bomb threats were received at the Press Club but no trace of the caller was reported. Police dogs were used to search the club’s ballroom during the day and during the night but nothing was found. In the street outside the Press Club building last night, four men picketed the event, the only sign of protest. One of them, who identified himself as Mike Meir and said he represented only himself, charged that the Arabs were “buying” the press club.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
