Aj Committee Tells Begin It Will Not Defend Jewish Resettlement in Hebron

Leaders of the American Jewish Committee warned the Israeli government not to overestimate the support of American Jews for its policies. They declared specifically that the organization “will not defend” any decision by Israel to resettle Jews in the West Bank Arab town of Hebron.

The AJ Committee leaders spoke to Israeli journalists at the close of their Board of Governors meeting here which wound up a 13-day visit to Egypt and Israel. Bertram Gold, executive vice president, said that it implemented, a Jewish move into Hebron could not be explained in the U.S.

The American Jewish leaders indicated that they would not openly attack the Israeli government. They said they had sought to convey their views to Premier Menachem Begin at a meeting with him Sunday at which they expressed disquiet over some aspects of Israeli policy. They said that out of politeness and deference to the Premier, they had not pressed their points.

But AJ Committee president Richard Maass said he was concerned that Begin overestimated the support for Israel’s policies among. American Jews. He said that large turn-outs at public meetings did not mean that American Jewry is solidly behind Israel government policies. Maynard Wishner, of Chicago, who is considered likely to succeed Maass, occurred with his comments.

During his meeting with the AJ Committee leaders Begin used the term “appeasement” to describe the U.S. approach to the Palestinian problem and upheld the “right” of Israelis to settle anywhere in “Eretz Israel.” The AJ Committee officials said later that they understood the Premier’s message to be a call to them to resist the Carter Administration’s policy line on the Palestinians.