Allon Says’ His Talks with U.S. Leaders Were Satisfactory

Israeli Foreign Minister Yigal Allon said today that his talks with Administration leaders in Washington were “satisfactory” in the two major areas they covered–bilateral relations between the U.S. and Israel and a joint exploration of the entire Middle East situation. Allon made the statement at a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations here this afternoon following his week of talks with Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and other government officials and his White House meeting with President Ford.

Allon described his visit with Ford as “warm and friendly” and said the same atmosphere characterized his meetings with leading members of Congress. He said his talks with Kissinger and Treasury Secretary William Simon were “frank, friendly and warm.” In an apparent reference to reports that the U.S. was exerting pressure on Israel for further concessions in the interests of renewed peace negotiations with its neighbors, Allon said “No commitments were made.”

He reiterated Israel’s refusal under any circumstances to negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organization. “Would Israel be willing to ride a tiger if it were disguised as a horse?” he said. He said that Israel’s armed forces were qualitatively and quantitatively superior to what they were at the time of the Yom Kippur War. He said Israel now possesses the most sophisticated weapons in the world.

SLIPS OF THE TONGUE IGNORED

Allon invited the Presidents Conference to send a delegation to Israel. “Israel knows of your position and influence and I extend to you an invitation to come. You will be warmly welcomed and will contribute to the morale of the people of Israel and the American Jewish people,” he said.

Asked about Israel’s attitude toward “slips of the tongue,” a reference to recent disturbing offhand remarks about the Palestinians by President Ford and Vice President designate Nelson Rockefeller. Allen said “We ignore the slips and accept the clarifications.”

Today’s meeting of the Presidents Conference was presided over by Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, president of the American Jewish Congress. Rabbi Israel Miller, Conference chairman, attended but did not preside because of a recent death in his family.