The Senate today, debating the foreign aid authorization bill, rejected by a 79-8 vote a move to ban assistance to Israel if its armed forces attacked Lebanon. The amendment by Sen. James Abourezk (D.SD) to the bill was supported by one other Democrat, Lee Metcalf of Montana, and six Republicans. The leaders of both parties, Hugh Scott (R.Pa.) and Mike Mansfield (D.Mont.), opposed the Abourezk amendment.
In arguing for the amendment, Abourezk declared that “if we continue to furnish arms to Israel, eventually we will force Lebanon to go to somebody else for military assistance if the new government in Lebanon wants to keep its credibility with the people.” He said that “we drove Egypt, other Arab states and the Palestinians into militancy” and by providing Israel with weapons the U.S. is asking “increased militancy of Lebanon.”
Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R.NY), supported by Sen. Henry M. Jackson (D.Wash.), in opposing Abourezk, declared that the intent of the South Dakotan’s amendment would lead to the destruction of Israel. “Unless Israel gets U.S. assistance,” Javits said. “she will be extinguished. All that nonsense we hear that (Yasir) Arafat is a moderate is our invention not his.” Javits quoted Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, as saying “You can have peace on my terms.” Javits said by this Arafat means the destruction of Israel.
Javits pointed out that the Arab terrorists used innocents in the Palestinian camps in southern Lebanon as shields for their stores of arms and bases of operation “not only against Israel but the government of Lebanon itself.” Javits said the Abourezk amendment would give the terrorists a “cover” to “dismantle Israel.”
Jackson said the amendment is “directed against Israel and protects the PLO.” He said the amendment makes Israel the only exception to U.S. aid while the “PLO would be immune. Israel is not supposed to defend itself against terrorists,” Jackson said, leaving the terrorists “free to attack Israel.”
The six Republicans who supported Abourezk were Carl Curtis of Nebraska; Paul Fannin and Barry Goldwater, both of Arizona, Mark Hatfield of Oregon; James McClure of Idaho and William L. Scott of Virginia.
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