The American Jewish Congress called on President Ford yesterday to break U.S. diplomatic relations with Libya and to urge other nations to “quarantine” the Libyan government.
In a telegram to the White House, Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg. AJCongress president, said the “wanton murder” of Harold Rosenthal. Sen: Jacob Javitz’s side, and other innocent international airline passengers by terrorists “paid for and directed by Libyan authorities demonstrates again the reckless and lunatic nature of that government. This danger to civilized society can no longer be tolerated by the family of nations. We respectfully call on you to declare that the United States is terminating at once all diplomatic relations with Libya.”
In urging a diplomatic break with Libya, Rabbi Hertzberg said it was “the least our government can do in response to the heartbreaking murder of an able and respected public servant (Rosenthal) and to the continued and ever-growing danger to secure and peaceful travel and intercourse between states.”
JOINT CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION URGED
Naomi Levine, executive director of the AJCongress, said that the organization would seek to have a joint Senate-House resolution adopted calling for the abrogation of diplomatic relations with Libya. She said she would ask Javits to introduce the resolution in the Senate and Rep. Lawrence Coughlin (R. Pa.) in the House. Rosenthal was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Rosenthal of Philadelphia. Coughlin is their Congressman.
The Republican national convention, which opens tomorrow in Kansas City, will also be asked to go on record in support of a diplomatic break with Libya, Mrs. Levine said. A telegram was sent Friday to Mary Louise Smith, Republican national chairman, requesting that a resolution be presented for adoption by Convention delegates condemning Libya for its role in fomenting terrorism and calling for the abrogation of U.S.-Libyan relations.
A similar message was also sent to the Atlanta headquarters of Jimmy Carter, Democratic Presidential candidate, asking for his public support of the proposal, Mrs. Levine said.
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